Adeyanju Mocks Gumi As Court Declares Bandits Terrorists

Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, has mocked popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over the proscription of bandits.

Naija News reports on Friday that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had declared that the activities of bandits in Nigeria as acts of terrorism.

The court also proscribed the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda group as well as other similar bandits groups in any part of the country.

The court equally directed the Federal Government to publish its proclamation in the Official Gazette.

According to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, who filed the motion had said President Buhari gave the directive for the proscription of bandits in the country.

Reacting to the development in a tweet via his Twitter page, Adeyanu says the tagging of bandits as terrorists has shown that their activities are illegal and criminal.

The activist applauded the President for taking the bold step of proscribing bandits while criticising Gumi for his continued advocacy for amnesty for the criminals.

He wrote: “Let me commend President Buhari for designating bandits terrorizing Northern Nigeria as terrorists. Shame on Gumi. It’s remaining killer herdsmen.”

Let me commend President Buhari for designating bandits terrorizing Northern Nigeria as terrorist. Shame on Gumi. It’s remaining killer herdsmen.

— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) November 26, 2021

Meanwhile, Gumi has accused the Federal Government of succumbing to the blackmail to tag bandits as terrorists.

In a statement by Malam Tukur Mamu, his Media Consultant, Gumi stated that naming bandits terrorists won’t change anything but only result in more violence.

While accusing an unnamed section of the country of pressuring Buhari, the cleric alleged that the action was taken for political expediency.

Gumi said, “I think the federal government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration, they are being fought and treated as terrorists.

“So it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on the ground.”