Bandits must be declared terrorists, Afenifere insists

The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to waste time again in declaring bandits, killing people in various parts of the country, as terrorists.

The group also asked the president to eschew the plea for mercy by a controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, for the bandits.

Recall that Gumi had been advocating for amnesty for the bandits, claiming they have been fighting for their rights.

But, Afenifere in a communique signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, at the end of its October meeting, held at the residence of its Acting Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo in Sanya-Ogbo, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, faulted Gumi’s position.

The Yoruba leaders lamented that insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities had not been reduced despite claims by the Buhari-led government that it has won the war.

While making its plight known, Afenifere said it joined the National Assembly and several others on the call that “those who have been kidnapping, and killing the people be declared as terrorists and be treated as such.”

The group lamented the manner the government has been handling the insecurity issue in the country, regretting that the government “has not succeeded in stemming the increasing spate of insecurity in the country.”

It added that bandits and terrorists were “getting emboldened to perpetrate their nefarious activities,” under the current administration.