A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by trial Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has determined that banditry and other similar organisations, by whatever names they go by, in whatever region of the country, are committing acts of terrorism and have been designated terrorists.
The federal government must also publish the order in the official Gazette and two national dailies in the country, according to Justice Taiwo.
Read also: Funding, bureaucratic issues Stalling resuscitation of Ajaokuta’s — Senate
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, reacted to the verdict by saying that it will inspire the federal government to go all out to eradicate all types of banditry in the country.
The order labeling bandits terrorists came after the Director of Public Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar, filed an application on behalf of the federal government over the operations of Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda, and other groups of bandits in the country.
The federal government had asked the court to declare the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist organisations in the country, illegal in the exparte application.
The request was made to checkmate the activities of the gang, which the government alleged was responsible for homicides, abductions, rapes, kidnappings, and other criminal acts in the North-east, North-central, and other parts of the country, according to a supporting affidavit.
“Banditry, incessant 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, and other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters, and wanton destruction of lives and proper property,” according to the federal government.
It went on to allege that the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda organizations, as well as others, were to blame for the murders of troops, police officers, and other security officials around the country.
The federal government claims that the groups’ activities have hampered commercial, educational, and farming activity in the North West and North Central.
“The operations of the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other similar groups,” the FG argued in a supporting affidavit, “constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety, as well as a threat to Nigeria’s national security and corporate survival.”
According to the DPP, President Muhammadu Buhari has given his support for his action, which has the goal of outlawing the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist organisations in the country.
The Rule of Law.
The court proclaimed the operations of the “Yan Bindiga Group” and the “Yan Ta’adda Group,” as well as other similar groups, to be “acts of terrorism and illegality” in any region of the country, notably in the North-west and North-central geopolitical zones.
“Similar groups, whether in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called, in any area of Nigeria, notably in the North-west and North-central geopolitical zones,” the judge declared, are terrorists and must be prohibited.
In light of the nefarious activities of bandits and their consequences on the people and the economy of the country, Justice Taiwo believes that such directives are necessary.
He expanded the proscription order to include all other groups in the country, regardless of name, whose activities and intentions are identical to the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groupings.
Terrorist activities, according to the ruling, “include, but are not limited to, banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnappings 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
The federal government must also publish the prosecution order in the official Gazette and two national dailies in the country, according to the judge.
FG Applauds the Decision.
The federal government has praised Justice Taiwo’s announcement and stated that it will proceed to publish the proscription order in accordance with the court’s decision.
In response to the verdict, Malami stated that the federal government would now be emboldened to go all out to eradicate all types of banditry in the country.
“This administration’s determination to conduct things in accordance with the rule of law,” Malami said of the proclamation.
“This development is a clue to the federal government’s resolve to adhere to international standards in honoring the rules of engagement in the country’s battle against terrorism, separatist organizations, insurgency, and banditry,” he says.
He stated that by issuing this announcement, Nigeria’s Federal Government has taken a courageous step toward dealing mercilessly with all terrorist groups and their backers in order to find a long-term solution to the country’s numerous security concerns.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, in coordination with appropriate government agencies, including security operatives, are working tirelessly to ensure that this pronouncement is fully utilized.
“The government will publish the proscription decree in the gazette,” Malami stated.
