Nigeria Calls on Western Allies to Declare Bandits, Boko Haram, IPOB as Terrorists
December 13, 2021 Reading Time: 6 mins read

Nigeria’s federal government on Sunday said that it was continuing to put pressure on its western allies to “proscribe” bandits, Boko Haram and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as terrorists.

The government said that doing so would severely reduce the funding for the groups, noting that it was doing all within its powers to ensure that a stop is put to the killings throughout the country.

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, made the assertion yesterday in reaction to an editorial by Daily Trust newspaper titled: “Life Has Lost Its Value Under Buhari’s Nigeria.”

While the federal government had earlier designated both Boko Haram and IPOB as terrorist organisations, last month, it finally got a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo to add bandits to the list.

The presidential spokesman stated that aside proscribing the three groups, its friends in the West should partner Nigeria in areas of trade and investment to deplete the reservoir of unemployed Nigerians where the various violent groups recruit their members from.

According to the presidency, the economic instability that the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked has further proven an effective recruitment tool for bandits and terrorists across the nation in particular and the African continent as a whole.

“Even as the West continues to extricate itself from Africa militarily, we are lobbying our Western allies aggressively for partnership, investment and support in other areas, such as proscribing Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB as terrorist groups.This would severely dent their funding

“(We are asking) them for investment in trade and infrastructure, to help lessen economic instability; and to help with technical assistance, advanced weaponry, intelligence and ordinance,” the presidency stressed.

Shehu explained that although this will likely be small comfort to the families and loved ones of those already lost, ridding the country of avoidable deaths is a battle the federal government is fighting without let up.

Stating that the growing instability and violence in the north of Nigeria and elsewhere were unacceptable, the federal government pointed out that no one, not least the presidency underestimates the seriousness of the situation.

“Every day, the president holds the victims and their families in his thoughts and prayers. Above all, he wishes to reassure them – and all Nigerians – that tackling the scourge of banditry and terrorism remains this government’s first priority,” the government added.

However, Shehu argued that in respect of violence and terrorism, Nigeria is not unique, arguing that violence and terror have risen steadily across the entire African continent over the last decade.

He maintained that the “Economist magazine” in a recent publication wrote about “The Next Afghanistan,” warning the global community of the horrifying security in its neighbourhood, citing specifically the states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

Noting that the presidency understood the frustrations of the newspaper and Nigeria’s northern communities about the ongoing challenges of security, Shehu noted that the Buhari administration is no less worried by the situation.

The Buhari government argued that it is only fair to say that Nigeria’s persistent and continued efforts to suppress the instability have seen results, with terror group Boko Haram, among others “reduced to a shell of its former self”

“Yet now we Nigerians face a new threat: the worst global health crisis in living memory. Even Nigeria that proudly holds the mantle of Africa’s largest economy is not immune from the debilitating economic impact of COVID-19.

“ The economic instability that the pandemic has wreaked has proven an effective recruitment tool for bandits and terrorists across the continent.

“Indeed, the Daily Trust has correctly identified the source of the violence as ‘an amalgam of many complex issues’ such as poverty and unemployment. It is equally right to note that, in tackling the violence, ‘force alone will not be enough.

“It is quite wrong, however, to suggest the problem of insecurity is intractable, and more wrong still to claim apathy on the part of the government,” the presidency argued.

Continuing on what the federal government was doing to ameliorate the situation, Shehu stated that the Nigerian military efforts have not let up, but admitted that it is true that in the face of today’s growing number of threats from Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers and IPOB to run of the mill bandits, the forces were stretched increasingly thin.

“Second, alongside military force, this government is seeking to address the violence at its economic source. Massive infrastructure projects like the coastal rail and new train from the southern coast through the north-east to our neighbour Niger aim to expand employment and opportunity across the country, bringing hope to our more remote and poorer regions where bandits and terrorists thrive,” he said.

The spokesman maintained that the Daily Trust’s suggestion that the president exchanges violence for the support he got electorally was “beneath a publication that claims any kind of political neutrality or integrity.”

According to the presidency, the focus as Nigerians must be on coming together and ending the violence pervading the country.

“As President Buhari wrote recently of the terrorists in UK paper ‘The Financial Times’: “We will defeat them, one highway, one rail link – and one job – at a time,” the statement added.

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

https://www.arise.tv/nigeria-calls-on-western-allies-to-declare-bandits-boko-haram-ipob-as-terrorists/

Now I understand the reason they employed media sycophants
And unknown men gun

Ipob, yeye group that has never claimed responsibility for their own actions

.

helinues:
Ipob, yeye group that has never claimed responsibility for their actions

We are exposing your propaganda more
You want iPob to claim responsibility of your actions
The boko haram that claim shooting down airforce jet
But lai Mohammed quickly became their spokesman and denied it on behalf of boko haram

Investigative:

We are exposing your propaganda more
You want iPob to claim responsibility of your actions
Boko

So na Boko Haram killed late Dora Akunyili's husband

You see what I was talking about. Ipob is irresponsible group

helinues:


So na Boko Haram killed late Dora Akunyili's husband

You see what I was talking about. Ipob is irresponsible group

Was that why you killed
dora akunyili
Ahmed gulak
so you can label ipob terrorist

Investigative:

Was that why you killed
dora akunyili
Ahmed gulak
so you can label ipob terrorist

IPOB are terrorists.

Soon they will be labeled so by western countries.

This I have seen!

helinues:


So na Boko Haram killed late Dora Akunyili's husband

You see what I was talking about. Ipob is irresponsible group

You are good in knowing those that are responsible
So what is stopping you from bringing your evidence to court

BeingCamping:


IPOB are terrorists.

Soon they will be labeled so by western countries.

This I have seen!

If wishes were horse
After all
Mandela was also labeled a terrorist
Hahahah

Investigative:

Was that why you killed
dora akunyili
Ahmed gulak
so you can label ipob terrorist

Continue blaming everyone except yourself...

Una eyes go soon clear. SEBI many of your people have opted out from traveling to the village this December due to security concerns, all thanks to Ipob, ESN and UGM

helinues:


Continue blaming everyone except yourself...

Una eyes go soon clear. SEBI many of your people have opted out from traveling to the village this December due to security concerns, all thanks to Ipob, ESN and UGM

Says an ogbomoso niche carver
Who never leave his enclave
IPob also attack oyo prison

Investigative:

You are good in knowing those that are responsible
So what is stopping you from bringing your evidence to court

Bringing evidence to court abi evidences that have been submitted to court.

Can't you see the judges are even yet to debate on Kanu's case cos more charges are been filed against him

helinues:


Bringing evidence to court abi evidences that have been submitted to court.

Can't you see the judges are even yet to debate on Kanu's case cos more charged are been filed against him

Mediocre and laughable charges
Hahah
Why didnt you include buhari is dead mantra

helinues:


Continue blaming everyone except yourself...

Una eyes go soon clear. SEBI many of your people have opted out from traveling to the village this December due to security concerns, all thanks to Ipob, ESN and UGM

Mr man shut up and face your own region.
Go and get your people in Benin Republic IDP camp, and let them freely go to their farms first.

Investigative:

Mediocre and laughable charges
Hahah
Why didnt you include buhari is dead mantra

That would be too early now. Na some of those later charges that would be submitted to the court.. Hope you understand what that means

More adjournment...

scofield76:

Mr man shut up and face your own region.
Go and get your people in Benin Republic IDP camp, and let them freely go to their farms first.

Those at Benin Idp camp have returned long time, except if you are presently in the camp with them over there

What kind of foolish talk is this?

Emergingnation1:
Afonja Muslim, focus in ongoing Skull mining and human organ harvesting in your region....

Abi those killed by this terrorist ain't Human.

This one is here with his regurgitating thrash.

Can't you come up with something more creative than this.

helinues:


That would be too early now. Na some of those later charges that would be submitted to the court.. Hope you understand what that means

More adjournment...

You too mumu no be small. Dem use mumurity swear give you?

Sctests:


You too mumu no be small. Dem use mumurity swear give you?

But I am a still a learner to you now

You wey get Phd degree in it

helinues:


But I am a still a learner to you now

You wey get Phd degree in it

Illiterate mugu.