Defense minister explains why FG is yet to label bandits as terrorists
The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.) has explained some of the reasons why the Nigerian government is yet to declare bandits as terrorists.
Magashi, speaking on Friday, in Maiduguri, while fielding questions from newsmen, said the need to follow due process was responsible for the delay.
He added that there was a procedure that needed to be observed before such a declaration.
He said, “We are not declaring them terrorists because there is a procedure for doing that. When the procedure is followed, they will be classified as terrorists. We are waiting for the procedure to be completed.”
The minister, who was in Maiduguri with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor and Service Chiefs on an assessment visit of the fight against insurgency in the North-East, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far.
He said his team met with the Theatre Commander and other component commanders to deliberate on the next phase of operations, adding that the meeting also identified problems that required urgent attention to enhance the operations.
The Informant247 Newspaper
