The federal government on Wednesday released the Official Gazette proscribing Yan Bindiga group and TA ‘ Adda group otherwise known as bandits as terrorist organizations.
The Gazette with short tittle ” Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice”, dated Lagos on November 29 ,2021 Vol 108 , stated that any person or group of persons participating in the activities of the proscribed groups “will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) ACT 2021.”
The Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette is contained in Government Notice No. 169 published as supplement to the Terrorism Prevention ACT No 10, 2011
“Order declaring the activities of Yan Bindiga group,Yan TA’ Adda group and others similar groups in any part of Nigeria as terrorism and illegal.” These groups are believed to be responsible for banditry, kidnappers and cattle rustlers among other crimes.
It also proscribed the groups existence and restrained any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form in the activities of any of the groups.
The Gazette further stated that ” Notice is hereby given that by the order of the Federal High Court Abuja in suit No FHC/ABJ/1370/2021 dated 25th November 2021 as per schedule to this notice, the activities of Yan Bindiga group,Yan TA’ Adda group and other similar groups in Nigeria are declared to be terrorism and illegal in any part of Nigeria .
“Especially, in the North West and North Central regions of Nigeria and are proscribed pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Prevention) ACT 2011.
The Gazette also stated that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention of the proscribed groups will be treated às haven violated the provisions of the Act.
The official Gazette was released barely twenty four hours after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN hinted of its release.
Malami at a television programme on Tuesday morning, had stated that the federal government is waiting for the conclusion of the gazette before deploying the newly Tucano Jet to tackle activities of bandits and kidnappers ravaging parts of the North West and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.
It would be recalled that the federal government worried by the magnitude of devastation caused by the affected groups in states like Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto amongst others had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja for an order declaring the activities of the group as amounting to terrorism.
Delivering ruling in the exparte application filed by the federal government, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, had agreed with the position of the government that the action of the two groups are adversely affecting the economy and lives of people in the North West and North Central geopolitical zones of the country.
The judge held that “Upon reading the afidavit in support of the amended motion Ex-parte deposed to by Noma Ganau and after hearing A. K Alilu, “Order is hereby made declaring the activities of the 1st Respondent (Yan Bindiga Group), 2nd Respondent (Yan Ta’adda Group) and other similar group in any part of Nigeria especially in the North-West and North-Central Regions of Nigeria as acts of terrorism and illegality.
“That order is hereby made proscribing the Ist Respondent (Yan Bindiga Group), 2nd Respondent (Yan Ta’adda Group) and other similar group in any part of Nigeria, especially in the North-West and North Central Regions of Nigeria either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called and publishing same in the Official Gazette and two (2) National Dailies.
“That order is hereby made proscribing any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise ofthe Ist Respondent (Yan Bindiga Group) and the 2nd Respondent (Yan Ta adda Group) under any other name or platform however called or described.
“That order is hereby made against the groups stated in the application as Ist part and 2nd Respondents and all other criminal groups operating in any part of Nigeria with a view to carry out banditry, kidnapping for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abduction of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, enslavement imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, killings in communities forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and other commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria”.