Lagos lawmaker urges President Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists

A Lagos State lawmaker, Setonji David (APC-Badagry Constituency 2), on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits and other groups causing insecurity in the country as terrorists.

David, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategies, made the appeal when he spoke in Lagos.

He was reacting to the President’s 61st Independence Day broadcast and said the declaration of bandits and other insurgents as terrorists would enhance the safety of lives and property of the people.

In his speech, President Buhari had said government had identified a lawmaker in the National Assembly as one of the high-profile financiers of ethnic agitators.

He said the lawmaker finances the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.

The president promised to vigorously pursue the financiers.

David said that Kanu and Adeyemo were not the ones unleashing mayhems, but the problem of this country were government’s policies that were inimical to the generality of the people.

The lawmaker appealed to the president to rather go after the groups causing destruction of properties and killing of innocent Nigerians.

He said: “as we celebrate the country’s anniversary, this is not the best of times due to the activities of bandits that are killing innocent citizens.

“Nigerians are still expecting the president to declare these bandits as terrorist groups which is also in support of the National Assembly’s resolution that they should be proscribed as terrorists.

David also lauded the president for his recent appointment of young and vibrant people into positions of authority in his administration.

He said youth participation in governance and in the president’s administration would bring fresh ideas into the development of the country.

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“It is a good idea that the president is appointing the youth into his administration and if you look at it, we are in the modern age.

“We need the youths that are conversant with new developments to be in charge of relevant sectors, so it a good development,’’ he said.

The lawmaker also urged Nigerians to be peaceful and be law-abiding at all times.