FG Finally Declares Bandits as Terrorists, Issues Gazette

• The bandits terrorising the northern part of Nigeria were finally on Wednesday, January 5, proscribed as terrorists
• This follows the gazetting of a court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists by the AGF, Abubakar Malami
• Nigerians had been calling on the government to declare the bandits as terrorists following the devastating nature of their attacks on innocent citizens

FCT, Abuja - The federal government has finally declared bandits as terrorists after weeks/months of agitation from Nigerians.

The Punch reported that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), gazetted a court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists.

Legit.ng recalls that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, November 25, 2021, granted an ex parte application by the federal government for Yan Bindiga (Hausa word for gunmen) and Yan Ta’adda (Hausa word for terrorists) to be declared as terrorists.

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The bandits have been mostly terrorising the northwestern geopolitical zone, especially Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna states.

The banditry also spilt into the North Central and other zones in the country.

The bandits have killed hundreds of innocent persons, kidnapped several others including schoolchildren, with some still in their custody, while some are nursing injuries sustained during the attacks.

It won’t change anything, Sheikh Gumi reacts to declaration of bandits as terrorists

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Sheikh Ahmad Gumi reacted to the Federal High Court's decision to declare bandits as terrorists, saying it will not change anything.

The Kaduna-based Islamic scholar in a statement by Malam Tukur Mamu, his media consultant and Dan-Iyan Fika explained that even before the declaration bandits were being treated as terrorists.

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According to him, bandits are herdsmen, and giving such a label will result in more violence in the country.

Sheikh Gumi says he will no longer mediate for bandits, gives reason

Meanwhile, Sheikh Gumi also said he has stopped mediating for armed bandits following their declaration as terrorists by the court.

Prior to the declaration of the bandits as terrorists by the Federal High Court in Abuja, Gumi had visited them in the forests in Zamfara and Niger states. He had also repeatedly urged the federal government to grant them a general amnesty as was done to the militants in the Niger Delta.

With the declaration of the bandits as terrorists, Gumi said it will be dangerous for him to continue to engage the bandits.

Source: Legit.ng