Declare bandits as terrorists, El-Rufai tells FG

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State  has called on the Federal Government to declare bandits as terrorists. He said this will enable the military to kill them without consequences in international law. EXPLAINER: How to identify bandits’ informants Bandits abduct passengers in Niger The Governor made the comment after receiving the third quarter security report […]

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State  has called on the Federal Government to declare bandits as terrorists.

He said this will enable the military to kill them without consequences in international law.

• EXPLAINER: How to identify bandits’ informants
• Bandits abduct passengers in Niger

The Governor made the comment after receiving the third quarter security report of the state, on Wednesday.

He said in 2017, he wrote a letter to the Federal Government, seeking the
declaration.

According to him, his administration support the resolution by the National Assembly on the issue, adding that he will follow up with another letter of support for the government to declare the bandits as terrorists.

“We, in Kaduna State Government, have always aligned with the declaration of bandits as insurgents and terrorists. We have written letters to the Federal Government since 2017, asking for this declaration because it is the declaration that will allow the Nigerian military to attack and kill these bandits without any major consequences in international law.

“ So, we support the resolution by the National Assembly and we are going to follow up with a letter of support, for the Federal Government to declare these bandits and insurgents as terrorists, so that they will be fair game for our military. This is the view of the Kaduna State Government,” he said.

The governor also called for a consensus between the Federal Government
and the the 36 states on an emergency programme of recruitment into
the security agencies, adding that government can change the game
significantly by hiring 1,000 willing youths from each of the 774 LGAs
in the country into the security agencies.

He said this will be a surge in numbers that is unprecedented since
the civil war.

He said an influx of 774,000 “new boots on the ground” will be a significant blow on criminals and also serve as an employment boost.

He offered his sympathy for all the pains and sorrow insecurity is causing despite consistent efforts and investments of hard-earned resources, saying they are working hard to solve the problem.

He offered condolences to the security agencies and the families of the security officers that have been killed while trying to keep the people safe.

“I wish to appeal to all the citizens and residents of Kaduna State to
remain law abiding and to uphold peace in their communities as best as
they can,” he said.