The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has reacted to decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to declare bandits as terrorists.
The group’s National President, Yerima Shettima, insisted that nobody can hold the country to ransom.
In an interview with DAILY POST, Shettima, applauded the decision of the federal government, stating that it was better late than never.
He stressed that Buhari should be commended for the decision to declare bandits as terrorists.
According to Shettima: “It’s better late than never, it’s long overdue. All the tendencies and characters of terrorism has been displayed by these characters in the name of banditry.
“It’s indeed a good thing and I applaud the Federal Government for that courage. Some of us were not happy when the court made the pronouncement and the president could not attend to it immediately, but it’s better late than never; this can not continue.
“Nobody can be allowed to continue to hold the country to ransom; as such, I commend the Federal Government and Buhari for this feat.
“I hope those saddled with the responsibility will do the needful, so that for once, we can have some rest.”
Asked if the proscription is a sign that Nigerians should expect an improvement in the country’s security, Shettima said: “I believe from what I’m seeing that we are likely to see something better than what we have seen in the past.”
DAILY POST had reported that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had gazetted a court judgement which proscribed bandits.
The gazetted pronouncement proscribed their existence and restraining any person or group of persons from participating in activities of bandit groups.
This follows weeks of footdragging, after Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, granted an ex parte application for Yan Bindiga (Hausa word for gunmen) and Yan Ta’adda (Hausa word for terrorists) to be declared as terrorists.
