The federal government has declared bandits as terrorists and proscribed their activities in the North Central and North west regions and any other part of the country.
The declaration titled, ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021 is contained in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette released by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
According to the Gazette, ”Order Declaring The Activities Of Yan Bindiga Group, And Any Other Group In any Part Of Nigeria As Terrorism And Illegal, Proscribing Their Existence And Restraining Any Persons Or Group Of Persons From Participating In Any Manner Whatsoever In Any Form In The Activities Of Any Of The Group.”
It read in part ”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, Proscription 2021 as per the schedule to this Notice, the Activities of Yan Bindiga Group, Yan Ta’adda Group and other similar groups 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 the 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 groups violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution.
”This Notice shall be cited as the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Short Title. Order Notice, 2021.”
The moves by the Federal Government came following ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, in November 2021, declaring bandits as terrorists, consequent upon an ex parte motion the Federal Government filed before it through the Ministry of Justice.
Hon. Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, held that the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups, constitute acts of terrorism.
The Federal Government had approached the court to declare bandits as terrorists in October due to concerns raised by Nigerians urging Government to take decisive actions on the activities of the bandits.
The ex-parte motion, argued that the bandit groups were responsible for several killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings and related acts of criminality in the Northeast, North-Central, and other parts of the country.
Other argument raised in the motion ex-parte fingered the dandit the groups as engaging in incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities, amongst other violent acts.
The court further ordered the FG to publish the proscription order in the official gazette as well as in two national dailies.
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