The Federal
Government is
considering
banning the use of
motorcycles and
mining activities
nationwide to cut
off sources of
funds by terrorists
and bandits.
The Attorney-
General of the
Federation and
Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami,
gave the hint
Thursday while
briefing State
House reporters
after a meeting of
the National
Security Council
presided over by
President
Muhammadu
Buhari.
He said the
government
needed to act
because terrorists
had moved from
the conventional
ways of funding
their activities to
mining and ransom
taking.
He said
motorcycles were
used by the
bandits for
movement; while
mining provided
them funds for
their arms supply.
Asked if the
government would
consider the
implications of the
proposed ban on
the lives of
ordinary Nigerians
and the economy,
he said national
and public
interests would be
placed above
individual interests.
“The government
will look into that
possibility with
particular regards
to restriction on
use and
distribution of
motorcycles which
is the most
conventional
logistical means
being deployed by
terrorists.
“Again, issues of
funding of the
terrorism and the
terrorism act were
discussed and
deliberated upon
and considered,”
he said.
He said with the
Money Laundering,
Prevention and
Prohibition Act, the
conventional
means of terrorists’
funding was
substantially and
drastically
addressed leading
to forensic analysis
of and
identification of
certain
personalities that
were in one way or
the other
connected with
terrorism
financing.
“But then, new
innovations were
brought into the
terrorists funding
and financing
inclusive of the use
of mineral
resources – the
mining for example
among others. And
indeed, ransom
which
conventionally has
been taken by the
terrorists and then
the need arises to
now look into those
frontiers that are
being considered
by the terrorists for
the purpose of
addressing them
accordingly.”
He said the
government was
looking at what
measures to take
in terms of
addressing,
bridging and
blocking
associated sources
of terrorists’
funding, including
payment for
ransom and
“indeed, the mining
activities and the
possibility or
otherwise of
suspending for the
time being, mining
activities, are being
considered as well,
by the
government.”
A security and
intelligence expert,
Kabiru Adamu, in a
chat with Daily
Trust yesterday,
advised the
government to
consider regulatory
measures rather
than ban
motorcycles, in the
interests of the
local economy.
He said he had
earlier asked the
government to limit
terrorists’ ability to
move freely.
“And since we
know they use
mainly motorcycles
to move around,
we had in mind the
system where the
government is able
to at least regulate
the movement of
okada, not ban it.
We don’t support
the ban.
“What this means
is that, the
government should
have an idea of
motorcycles in
existence and
make sure those
motorcycles are
registered, and
then have a
system in place
where when the
owners of those
motorcycles use
them to commit
acts that are
against the law,
they’re held
accountable.
“Banning will affect
the economy of the
local communities,
and the poor
economy is a
driver of insecurity.
If the government
further
strangulates the
economy by
reducing the ability
of law-abiding
citizens to move
around, it’ll further
drive insecurity in
those local
communities,” he
said.
He added:
“However, I think
what the
government should
do is to do more of
what we call a
‘targeted-approach’
where they’ll insist
that every
motorcycle owner
must register who
he is, and then
develop the
capacity to monitor
the usage and
movement of these
motorcycles. So,
surveillance is an
option.
“We can have eyes
in the air through
satellites we have
or other technology
where we’ll know
when those bikes
move and how they
move,” he said.
Also speaking after
the NSC meeting,
the Minister of
Interior, Rauf
Aregbesola, said
substantial efforts
went into gathering
of intelligence
before the recent
attack on Kuje
Correctional
Centre.
He, however,
regretted that there
was the absence
of will to act on it.
He said a
preliminary report
of investigation on
the attack had
been submitted to
the president and
that a detailed
report would be
made available at
the end of the
probe.
He said those
found to have
abandoned their
responsibilities
would be punished.
Meanwhile, the
House of
Representatives
yesterday resolved
to investigate the
causes,
dimensions and
effects of the
recent terrorists’
attack on the Kuje
custodial centre.



Source: https://dailytrust.com/terrorism-fg-mulls-ban-on-motorcycles-mining-activities-nationwide
Lalasticlala Mynd44

Was discussed here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrsAYX_mMZI