The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Friday, asked the Federal Government to publish the proscription order declaring bandits as terrorists.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a ruling declared the activities of the ‘Yan Bindiga Group’ and the ‘Yan Ta’adda Group’ and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the North-West and North-Central geopolitical zones, as “acts of terrorism and illegality.”
He noted that terrorism activities “include, but not limited to banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”
The ruling was given after an argument by Aminu Kayode Alilu, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, who argued the motion ex-parte filed by the Federal Government to that effect.
The court’s declaration ended President Buhari’s administration’s reluctance to declare the extremist groups as terrorists despite mounting pressure from political players.
Recall that in October, Badhir Magashi, the defence minister, had said that President Muhammadu Buhari was following due process in declaring the bandits as terrorists.
However, Buhari’s media aide Garba Shehu also referred to the bandits terrorising the country, especially the North-West, as terrorists.
Also, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state had also expressed his displeasure at the reluctance of president Buhari’s administration to declare the bandits as terrorists.
The Kaduna state governor noted that just two years after Buhari assumed power, he had requested the regime to declare the bandits as terrorists in several letters.