Nigeria Government Declare Bandits As Terrorists 

The decree that legally outlaws the terror group was released on Wednesday

By Omotayo Olutekunbi

The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally designated bandit gangs terrorizing mostly Northern Nigeria as terrorists.

Terrorist groups that have terrorized states in the country’s northwest have now been labeled terrorists and will face prosecution under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

The decision to label the organisations terrorists has been a long time coming, with the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, noting earlier this week that the gazette was nearing completion.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court of Abuja has allowed the Federal Government’s ex-parte motion to classify organizations known as ‘Yan Bindiga’ and ‘Yan Ta’adda’ (Hausa terms for gunmen and terrorists, respectively) as terrorists.

However, the granted application was not gazetted for nearly a month till today.

The document, headed ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021,’ may be found in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, and portions from it can be seen below,

“Notice is hereby given that by the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2021 dated 25th November, 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar group in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria and are proscribed, pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.

“Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution.”