Bandits who kill and abduct even school children have still not been designated as terrorists by FG
Speakers of the 36 States House of Assembly have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the nation.
They made the demand at the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Katsina State on Sunday.
The demand of the speakers for bandits to be declared terrorists is coming after the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and the National Assembly called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists.
Chairman of the Conference, who is also Bauchi State Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman said the resolution for bandits to be designated terrorists was part of their five-point communiqué at the end of eight hours deliberations.
Bandits have been running amok in Nigeria with the federal government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari unable to designate their act as terrorism.
He said, “We call on President (Muhammadu) Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the state. The conference has observed all the activities carried out by the bandits as containing the same mode of operations used by terrorists.
“The Conference also decried the state of insecurity in the country and the activities of bandits and resolved to work out legislative frameworks, to complement the efforts of the Federal Government to address the security challenges in the country.
“In addition, the Conference also resolved to make appropriate laws to address the fundamental issues that breed insecurity in the land, as well as create employment for the youths and curb the menace of insecurity in the country.”
The Speakers’ Conference further commended governors who gave their assents to the fund management bills passed by their respective state Assemblies and called on those yet to do so to expedite action on the bill for effective implementation of financial autonomy for the state legislatures and judiciary