Declaring bandits terrorists won’t change anything – Gumi

While security and intelligent experts consider the latest Abuja Federal High court declaring bandits terrorists as a quantum leap in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, a famous Northern cleric – Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has faulted the court verdict, which was in favour of Federal Government.

The scholar contended that declaring bandits as terrorists won’t practically change anything and would further compound the challenge of banditry in the country instead. He argued that when IPOB was declared a terrorist group, the international community has refused to recognize the Nnamdi Kanu-led movement as such, up to today.

It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja has declared bandits anywhere in the country as terrorists. Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the declaration in Abuja, saying that groups, such as Yan Bindiga and ‘Yan Ta’adda should be declared terrorists.
The judge was reportedly acting on an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government.

According to the Director Public Prosecution, DPP, Mohammed Abubakar, President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the proscription of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other terrorist groups in the country.

But Sheikh Gumi faulted the latest development, saying that the Federal Government has succumbed to “media blackmail” by seeking court intervention in the declaration of bandits as terrorists, describing the action as a move predicated on “political expediency”. He said the only way forward  was “to address injustice” meted on herdsmen in “cattle rustling and extortion” , provision of functional education for them as well as employment opportunities.

He further argued that Nigeria has a lot to learn  from  the recent American experience in Afghanistan, where United States forces suffered heavy casualties  and failed to restore  security despite  their technology and firepower. He was further quoted by Desert Herald newspaper as stating that labelling the bandits as terrorists would only pave the way for international terror groups to forge alliance with the bandits and infiltrate their ranks with “dangerous” religious indoctrination thereby complicating the nation’s security challenges.

Sheikh Gumi has always taken a conflicting stance to that of the Federal Government on the challenge of banditry, giving his reasons predicated on the fear of worsening the current situation, though not many Nigerians share his views – often considered controversial.

Recall the Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Governor Nasor Ahmad Elrufai of Kaduna State have been urging President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to declare the bandits as terrorists as the fastest means of ending the threat once and for all.