With Declaration Of Bandits As Terrorists, FG Has No Excuse Not To Crush Insurgency – AGF

*Declaration Mere Political Stunt By FG, Says Gumi*

Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has declared total war on bandits now that the court has granted a Federal government application declaring bandits a terrorist organisation.

Reacting to the declaration made by the court, he said that the Federal Government is now poised in its determination to crush banditry.

In a statement signed by Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami said the declaration is a demonstration of the determination of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and indeed the Federal Government to act in accordance with the rule of law.

“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,” he said.

With the declaration, he said the Federal Government of Nigeria has taken bold steps to deal ruthlessly with all terrorist groups and their sponsors in efforts to bring lasting solutions to the myriad of insecurity challenges in the country.

The statement added that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in collaboration with relevant government agencies and security operatives are working assiduously to take full advantage of this declaration.

According to him, the government will gazette and publicise the proscription order.

Recall that Sheikh Ahmed Gumi had warned President Muhammadu Buhari against the attempt to declare bandits terrorist organisation, stating that such proscription with lead to the end of the entity called Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a controversial Islamic scholar, has described the declaration of bandits as terrorists as a decision taken for mere political expediency, which will not change anything.

 “I think the Federal Government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration they are being fought and treated as terrorists,” the fiery cleric said.

In a statement by Malam Tukur Mamu, the Dan-Iyan Fika and Media Consultant to Sheikh Gumi, the Muslim scholar said: “So it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on the ground.

“If you can remember IPOB was also declared a terrorist organisation, the declaration was even backed by the order of the Court, but as you can see even the international community did not recognise FG’s declaration of IPOB. So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.”

“They have not been banned from travelling to other countries while their citizenship remains intact, it has not been denounced. So what type of declaration is that” he queried.

*Independent