Tobias Sylvester
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has asked the Federal Government to include Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) on the list of terrorist groups in Nigeria.
KanyiDaily recalls that the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to designate bandits as terrorist organisations which the court obliged.
During his ruling on Friday, November 26, Justice Taiwo Taiwo specifically held that activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups, constitute acts of terrorism.
Reacting to the development while speaking on Friday in Makurdi, Ortom commended the Federal Government for being bold to designate bandits as terrorists.
Governor Ortom also called on the government to add Miyetti Allah, MACBAN, and FUNAM to the list of terrorists because they have many bandits as members.
He said, “I want to commend the Federal Government for being bold to designate bandits as terrorists.
“But I call on the government to also include Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN and Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM in the category of terrorists because those bandits are their members.”
Ortom urged the people of the state to support security agencies with useful intelligence in the fight against criminality and other forms of insecurity, pointing out that security is everyone’s business.
Meanwhile, a popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said that declaring bandits as terrorists will not change anything as it is just a decision taken for political expediency that would only result in more violence in the country.
