Insecurity: Yan Ta'adda; a Befitting Nomenclature

By
Abdullahi D Mohammed




Understandably, there is no universally accepted definition of terrorism, or, who a terrorist is. Because, one man's terrorist, is another's hero. The concept or delineation of terrorism and who a terrorist is has been at the fore of debate for decades. Scholars and security experts has so far, adopt an open-ended definition. Some decided however, to clearly delineate several definitions, all in an attempt to explore and encompass the many elements of what typifies and constitute terrorism, and act of terror.

Terrorism is defined as, the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

The declaration, last week, by a federal High Court, at the request of federal government, bandits as terrorists has expectedly stirred controversy and lots of debate. The proscription of Yan ta'adda or Yan Bindiga groups, whose latest atrocious display was a 4-day siege on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway, should relatively put to rest, debate on the legality of such proscription. It should equally halt further debate on whether the group had aptly fit into the definition of a terrorist. Because, in every way, they do.

Of course, the raging debate, or argument on the nomenclature, or christening of bandits is drawn from the numerous and varying definitions of terrorism. If you take a definition, from CIA, thus, "premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non combatant targets by sub-national groups".
Those calling for caution, and openly against proscribing bandits as full blown terrorists has a futile or, weak line of arguments. The underlining or varying arguments could be drawn from the lack of coordinated structure, and central authority within the rank and file of the bandits. They argue thus, bandits do not have a structured line of authority, and a premeditated political ulterior motive.

On the surface, their motives might be obscured, the blurriness did not diminish the goriness of senseless killings of non-combatant populations. They might not necessarily seek a separate state, but certainly, they constitute a formidable threat to the corporate existence of the country.

Daily dose of their horrendous act is not lost on Nigerians. If, the only reasonable defense, those opposing their proscription is hinged on dictionary meanting of terrorism, they ought to realize the inherent flaws in the meaning(s). As noble as the great Madiba was, he alongside the ANC were branded terrorists. Similarly, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, PLO and their founding leader, Yasser Arafat, were equally regarded same, due in part to political extremes in the geopolitics of the Middle East.

These vague, ambiguous and diverse perspective or definitions of terrorism, were reasons most scholars opted for an open-ended definitions. It would, therefore, reflect the reality of their activities.

Yan Bindiga, which is what bandits are called, at least in their operational area, in Hausa parlance loosely means Gunmen. If Ta'addanci is terrorism or act of terror, then of course, Yan' ta'adda, translated as (perpetrators of terrorism or terrorists) should rightly be called so. Equally, Yan Bindiga -- Gunmen, whose preoccupation is violence on non-combatant civilians, then, both Yan ta'adda and Yan Bindiga deserve the terrorists tag.

In reality though, both groups has over the years assumed all characteristics and elements which aptly defined terrorism. They not only threaten lives, they take lives. They grow from strength to strength -- getting new recruits effortlessly to their fold. To say theirs is a disjointed group, is a fallacy. It could be a ploy, their chosen modus operandi -- make the public underestimate us. They are considered by some, as a rag tag group. But in reality, for sustaining a steady onslaught on both military and civilian population, demonstrate they are worst than any dictionary definition of terrorism.

For a group so sophisticated in the use of modern armoury -- they were reportedly paid to spare attack on Presidential jet. Certainly, they are no push over. For instance, they impose an elaborate taxation system on multiple communities in North-West, and, installed community heads as vassals across same region. Any barefaced group with such tainted disposition rightly deserve what they got.

The cruelty within which bandits operate, the pattern of attacks -- mass abductions of school children, kidnapped for ransom, and curiously, how they collect and live to spend the booty happily is one which will continue to raise eyebrows and critical questions on their activities and the nexus between banditry and terrorism, at least in Nigeria's context.

The fear of ethnic profiling of a particular ethnicity is, another concern raised by those opposing the proscription of bandits as terrorists. Most of which, are borne out of kinship affinities. Many of those kicking against their proscription, obviously lost their voices at the height of atrocious criminality by the Yan Bindiga. No doubt, there are criminal elements in virtually all ethnicities, region and faiths. Criminality is not exclusive to a particular ethnicity. As such, it has then become incumbent upon the majority "clean", to call out, loudly, the minority "dirty" within its fold. After all, we all are victims.

The Tucano fighter Jets, I understand were purchased from the US, under a strict clause -- deploy them only on terrorists groups, not harmless, innocent and non-combatant civilians. Yan Bindiga are antithesis of such clause. It is time Nigerian forces take the fight to the enemies. After all, we had castigated and criticize them of ineptitude for too long. Let us avail them the moral obligation on how to end insecurity.

Success recorded by the Nigerian forces, months back in the North-east were largely due to the deployment of the Tucano fighter Jets against Boko Haram, who later drove most of them into a collaborative and deadly union with bandits in forests around Rijana, Katari, and Jere (all along Kaduna-Abuja expressway) and other hot spot in northwest.

Bandits, or Yan Bindiga are in a way responsible for acute shortage of food, leading to food insecurity, as well as general insecurity. The double-edge characterization has been condoned for far too long, making it more complex and critical. It is what it is. Anyone suggesting a less reproachable nomenclature for bandits should objectively, assess the truer and practical definition of terrorism, in relation to their routine activities.
Either way, we all are victims. If your are confined in your comfort zone, unaffected by their sheer madness, your kith and kin might not.


Abdullahi D Mohammed is with the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria.
He writes from Kano
abdullahkidnyce@gmail.com