Bandits Are Not Special Breed, Treat Them As Terrorists – Middle Belt Slams Malami, Buhari

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to start treating bandits as terrorists.

According to the forum, the incumbent administration has shown it has no political will to end terrorism in the county due to it’s fair treatment on the blood thirsty group.

Naija News understands that the MBF stated this while responding to the reason highlighted by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on why bandits have not been declared terrorists.

Recall that the AGF Malami had said the Federal Government was yet to declare bandits terrorist because it was adhering to international best practice.

Malami’s comment has attracted a barrage of reactions on and off the media over incessant attack, kidnapping and killings of innocent people across the states by the bandits.

MBF National President, Bitrus Pogu, in a statement issued on Tuesday said: “I can never buy that line of thought. It means they have seen that their people who are doing mischief will be protected better if they are left as bandits.

“And as far as I am concerned, court orders are court orders and Malami has to obey it. If the court has made its declaration based on the practice of the people and their actions, they have been terrorizing people, they even shot down an aircraft, they have gone beyond the level of bandits and the court has declared them as terrorists and so it should be obeyed.”

Pogu insists that the treatment the federal government gives to terrorists should also be given to the bandits as they are not a special breed.

“And the action of Malami is an indication that there is no political will to end terrorism in Nigeria,” the MBF president reiterated.

Naija News recalls that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Federal High Court, had in November 2021, declared bandits as terrorists.

The judge had granted an ex parte application by the Federal Government for Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda to be declared as terrorists.

Despite the court’s ruling, the Buhari government has not taken necessary actions.

However, Malami said efforts were on to gazette the court’s ruling.