Following Thursday’s proscription of bandits in the country, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says the Federal Government is ready to crush all terrorist groups.
In a statement on Friday by his spokesman, Dr Umar Gwandu, the justice minister said the tagging of bandits as terrorists will give the military the power to come down heavily on terrorists disturbing the peace of the country.
He asserted that the ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has strengthened the government’s resolve to curb terrorism in Nigeria in line with international standards on the rules of engagement.
Malami submitted that the court order will also allow the government to go after sympathisers and sponsors of banditry and terrorism in the country.
He, therefore, stated that the court order shows that the Buhari government is committed to adhering to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism.
Malami said: “The development is a pointer to the commitment of the Federal Government to adhere to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, separatist organisations, insurgency and banditry in the country.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in collaboration with relevant government agencies, including security operatives, are working assiduously to do the needful to take full advantage of this declaration.”
reports that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had ruled that bandits operating in the North-west and North-central regions of the country can now be referred to as insurgent groups.
The judge asserted that the activities of bandits in the two regions can be termed as acts of terrorism.
Affirming the declaration in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, said the order to tag bandits as terrorists was given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abubakar said that the government decided to tag Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other bandits groups in the country as terrorists due to their involvement in the killings of security agents.
