Federal High Court declares bandits as terrorists

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital has declared the activities of groups linked to acts of banditry and kidnapping as act of terrorism.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo in a motion ex-parte argued by the Assistant Director, Public Prosecution from the Ministry of Justice, Aminu Kayode Alilu, 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 North Central geo-political zones in the country as acts of terrorism and illegality.

The Judge also proscribed all other groups in the country, irrespective of their names, but whose activities and objectives are similar to those of Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group.

Justice Taiwo said he was convinced that such orders were necessary in view of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the nation’s life, particularly on the people and its economy.

He noted that the activities of the groups include but are not limited to “Banditry, 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 and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria,” the Judge stated.

-VON