The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared the bandit groups operating in the country, especially in the northern part as terrorists.
A document released on Wednesday by Umar Gwandu, a spokesperson the country’s Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, shows that the Government has finally designated bandits as terrorists after a court gave the order.
As gathered by TheDailyLeaks, a government gazette announcing the declaration was signed on November 29, 2021, days after the court order.
The declaration titled ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021 is contained in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.
It read in part: “Notice is hereby given that by the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November, 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar group in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed, pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.
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“Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution.”
The declaration came after the country’s 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.
Earlier on Tuesday, the AGF, had, during an interview, informed that his office was in the process of gazetting the court judgement, saying that the process would be concluded in a matter of days.
Recalled Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had, on November 25, 2021, granted an ex parte application by the Federal Government for Yan Bindiga (interpreted to mean gunmen in English) and Yan Ta’adda (interpreted to mean terrorists in English) to be declared as terrorists.
