‘They’re Criminals’ – ACF Backs Declaration Of Bandits As Terrorists

The Muhammadu Buhari government has been commended for taking a bold step in tagging bandits as terrorists.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) gave the commendation while reacting to a court judgment that declared bandits as terrorists in Nigeria.

On Thursday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja ruled that bandits operating in the North-west and North-central regions of the country can now be referred to as insurgents.

The judge asserted that the activities of bandit groups like Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda in the two regions can be termed as acts of terrorism.

The ruling follows an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

In an interview with Vanguard on Friday, ACF spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, said the tagging of bandits as terrorists was a welcome development, adding that the proscription was long overdue.

He stated that bandits have continued to terrorise the country and impact negatively the people and the economy.

He said: “It is long overdue. The court has done well. What else do you call people who have terrorised a whole country for such a long time?”

In a related development, the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria has commended the recent ruling of a Federal High Court, Abuja which declared bandits as terrorists in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development in a statement jointly signed by its President, Isah Abubakar and its Director-General, Media and Publicity, Mock Samuel Kure, respectively in Kaduna on Friday, said the declaration of the FHC is appealing praiseworthy.