“Ignore Gumi, declare bandits as terrorists” – Afenifere to Buhari

The pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has told President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the statement made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi and declare bandits as terrorists.

Gumi had recently warned President Buhari against declaring bandits as terrorists. He said doing so will come at a price.

Gumi advised Buhari to, instead, grant amnesty to the bandits killing and kidnapping citizens in the north and other parts of the country. Gumi also claimed that the bandits are simply fighting for their rights.

Reacting, Afenifere called on Buhari and the Federal Government to ignore Gumi’s advice.

The group insisted that bandits should not only be declared terrorists but should also be given the treatment terrorists deserve.

Afenifere spoke through a communiqué 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.

The Yoruba leaders lamented that insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities had continued to fester in spite of claims by the government that it was winning the war against insecurity.

While expressing dissatisfaction with the way the government at the centre had been tackling insecurity, 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 described as unfortunate, the attitude of the authorities on the issue of security, regretting that the government “has not succeeded in stemming the increasing spate of insecurity in the country.”

On the contrary, Afenifere said bandits and terrorists were “getting emboldened to perpetuate their nefarious activities.”

While stating that it was ironic that some individuals were seeking clemency for terrorists, the group emphasised that “whoever deodorizes or abets evil is culpable.”