Designate Bandits Terrorist Organisation, Katsina House Tells FG

By Uche Mbah

From the home State of President Muhammadu Buhari, Katsina, comes a desperate plea from his people to him to save their lives by calling their tormentors by the name they deserve.

Katsina State House of Assembly on Monday defied expectations when they called on the Federal and State Governments to declare bandits as terrorists.

Although the Federal Government was swift to declare the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, a terrorist organisation, it has been foot-dragging to designate bandits with the same toga, fuelling speculation that they are treating the bandits with kid gloves, an allegation the FG denies.

The call was part of the presentation of a report by the House Committee on Security on persistent attacks on people of the State and the country at large by the bandits.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar (APC-Dutsinma), confirmed the call was part of its recommendations.

Abubakar said that the declaration of bandits as terrorists would give the military, the police and other security agencies the power to deal with them accordingly.

“There is what we call, `limitation of administration’. This means there are some actions that security agencies cannot take against bandits because they have not been declared as terrorists.

“Therefore, there is the need for the declaration of the bandits as terrorists so that all necessary measures can be taken by security agencies to fight them.

“During our investigation, we realised that the Security Containment Order signed by Gov. Aminu Masari, recorded a lot of successes in inhibiting the bandits.

“We have realised that attacks, kidnapping and killing of people by bandits have reduced by about 35 per cent. This shows that the security agencies are also trying their best,’’ Abubakar said.

According to him, the Committee recommends that Government reviews the order to eliminate its attendant negative effect on residents of affected areas, but without curtailing its successes.

According to NAN, the House adopted the report after deliberations by the lawmakers.

NAN recalls that on Nov. 10, Alhaji Jabir Yusuf (APC-Batsari) presented a motion of urgent public importance over an attack in Batsari town.

Following deliberations on the issue, the Assembly ordered its Committee on Security to meet with Security Agencies over the issue and revert for further actions.

Monday’s plenary was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Shehu Dalhatu-Tafoki.