…Says president’s impunity destroying Nigeria
As bandits continue to unleash their unrestrained reign of terror in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and other North-western States that has claimed thousands of lives including members of the Armed Forces, Nigerians from across the country have been calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare the bandits as terrorists to enable the troops deal decisively with them. The call came from several quarters.
The likes of Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i, of Kaduna State, have pleaded with Buhari to declare bandits terrorists so that the military will be decisive and firmer in dealing with them.
Recall that the Senate, on Wednesday, passed a resolution asking President Buhari to declare the bandits as terrorists through a Proscription Order, pursuant to section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (as Amended).
The Senate asked the president to wage a total war against the criminals, including bombing all their locations, to eliminate them, while also declaring all known leadership of the bandits wanted and track them wherever they are for arrest and prosecution.
Barely 24 hours after the Senate asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits terrorists, the House of Representatives also urged the President to do the same to underline the determination of the government to combat the wave of criminality and murders perpetrated by bandits all over the country.
A similar call was also made by all the 36 Speakers of State Houses of Assembly at the end of their conference last Sunday, in Katsina State, while asking the president to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the State.
However, as lawmakers both at the federal and state levels were passing resolutions asking that the bandits should be labeled as terrorists and other Nigerians added their voices, a lone voice, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who has been demanding amnesty for the bandits has warned against declaring bandits terrorists saying that would mark the end of Nigeria as a sovereign and united entity.
The lawyers, therefore reacted to the request made by the lawmakers and President Buhari’s reluctance to do so.
