The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the activities of bandits as acts of terrorism.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo on Friday held that the activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups constitute acts of terrorism and illegality.

The Judge also proscribed the activities of the bandits’ groups in any part of Nigeria, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called.”

There have been calls on the Federal Government to declare bandits as terrorists.

The bandits have been terrorizing Nigerians in the North-West and North-Central.

Delivering ruling, the court specifically declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga group” and the “Yan Ta’adda group” and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the North-West and the North-Central as “acts of terrorism and illegality.”

The court proscribed the activities of the group as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called”.

The judge also made an order restraining “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group under any other name or platform however called or described”.

Justice Taiwo then directed the Federal Government to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, had filed an ex-parte application seeking to proscribe the activities of bandits waging war against Nigerians.

In its supporting affidavits, the Federal Government said security reports have confirmed that the bandit groups were responsible for the killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings and related acts of criminality in the North-East, North-Central and other parts of the country.

The Federal Government said that the group is responsible for the growing cases of “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling and enslavement.”

The government also said the group is responsible for imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North-Central states in Nigeria.

“The activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety and is a threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has said the Federal Government’s determination to crush banditry remains unwavering now that the court has granted application filed by his Office declaring bandits’ groups as terrorist organisations.

“The development is a pointer to the commitment of the Federal Government to adhere to the international standards in respecting the rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, separatists organisations, insurgency and banditry in the country,” Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said in a statement made available to The Star.

He said by this declaration the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken bold steps to deal ruthlessly with all terrorists’ groups and their sponsors in efforts to bring lasting solution to the myriad of insecurity challenges in the country.

“The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in collaboration with relevant government agencies including security operatives are working assiduously to do the needful to take full advantage of this declaration.

“The government will gazette, publish the publicise the proscription order,” Gwandu said.