Jonathan bans Boko Haram, Ansaru

DETERMINED to wage war against
terrorism headlong, the Federal
Government, yesterday proscribed two
terrorist groups unleashing mayhem on
the polity, describing their activities
as illegal and acts of terrorism.
The outlawed groups are the Jamaatu
Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad
otherwise known as Boko Haram and the
Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis
Sudan also known as Ansaru.

In proscribing the sects, President
Goodluck Jonathan authorized the
gazetting of “an order declaring their
activities illegal and acts of
terrorism.”
This was contained in a statement by the
Special Adviser to the President on
Media & Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.
The statement was entitled, “President
Jonathan approves order proscribing Boko
Haram and ANSARU; members, supporters,
collaborators now face prosecution under
terrorism prevention Act.”
Abati said that the order which had
already been gazetted as the Terrorism
(Prevention, Proscription Order) Notice
2013 was approved by President Jonathan
pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism
Prevention Act, 2011 (as amended).
According to him, the notice,
“officially brings the activities of
both groups within the purview of the
Terrorism Prevention Act and any persons
associated with the two groups can now
be legally prosecuted and sentenced to
penalties specified in the Act.
“The proscription order warns the
general public that any person
participating in any form of activities
involving or concerning the collective
intentions of the said groups will be
violating the provisions of the
Terrorism Prevention Act.
“Section 5 (1) of the act prescribes a
term of imprisonment of not less than 20
years for any person who knowingly, in
any manner, directly or indirectly,
solicits or renders support for the
commission of an act of terrorism or to
a terrorist group.
“For the purposes of subsection (1) of
the section, “support” include:
(a) incitement to commit a terrorist act
through the internet, or any electronic
means or through the use of printed
materials or through the dissemination
of terrorist information;
(b) receipt or provision of material
assistance, weapons including
biological, chemical or nuclear weapons,
explosives, training, transportation,
false documentation or identification to
terrorists or terrorist groups;
(c) receipt or provision of information
or moral assistance, including
invitation to adhere to a terrorist or
terrorist group;
(d) entering or remaining in a country
for the benefit of, or at the direction
of or in association with a terrorist
group; or
(e) the provision of, or making
available, such financial or other
related services prohibited under this
Act or as may be prescribed by
regulations made pursuant to this Act.”
The order, yesterday, elicited mixed
reactions in the polity with the Senate
backing the decision but lamented that
it was coming late.
Reactions trail Jonathan’s order
Among those who spoke on the move, which
came a day after the United States of
America offered $23 million (about
N3.6bn) reward for information on the
location of five leaders of Al-Qaeda in
the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko
Haram including Shekau include former
governors of Kaduna State, Alhaji
Balarabe Musa and Alhaji Lawal Kaita;
and Arewa Youths.
This came as former Head of State,
General Abdulsalami Abubakar urged
members of the sect to embrace the
channel of dialogue offered by the
government to address their grievances
and an official of the United States of
America said Boko Haram leader, Shekau
might be tried in the U.S.
Senate, Reps back Jonathan
The Senate threw its weight behind
President Jonathan’s decision to
proscribe Boko Haram, whose members
have engaged in massive killings and
wanton destruction of property.
Reacting to the development, Chairman,
Senate Committee on Information, Media
and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, PDP Abia who noted that the
decision was coming rather late, said
that it was a welcome development,
adding, “the senate supports the
proscription of Boko Haram. It should
have been done long ago. But it’s a
welcome development.”
Members of the House of Representatives,
who reacted to the decision, yesterday,
said it was a welcome development though
proscribing an illegal body does not
really make sense.
Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Hon
Garba Ahmed Datti said: “Though a
welcome development, we do not need to
proscribe an illegal body like Boko
Haram. What is the essence of
proscribing a body that is illegal when
in the first place it was not
registered in Nigeria as a legal body?
This development does not really make
any sense to me.”
In his contribution, Chairman House
Committee on Anti-corruption and Ethics,
Hon Abiodun Faleke simply said: ”I agree
with the proscription. We are already in
war with the group. I only hope that the
same will apply to Niger Delta militants
and all amnesty will be stopped.
Jonathan not sincere – Arewa Youths
Arewa Youths said that the proscription
of Boko Haram by President Goodluck
Jonathan indicated that he was not
sincere in setting up the Boko Haram
Dialogue Amnesty Committee.
The youths, who spoke under the aegis of
the Arewa Youth Forum, noted that it was
wrong and confusing for the President to
set up a committee to seek dialogue with
Boko Haram members only to turn round to
disband the group that it claims to be
discussing with.
There’ll be consequences –Balarabe
Musa
On his part, Alhaji Balarabe Musa said
though he welcomed the decision,
Nigerians should be ready to face the
consequences.
His words: “The proscription is expected
because since security has been linked
with the American and Israeli military,
one can expect this. Just some few days
ago, America announced a payment for any
information leading to the capture of
the so-called leader of Boko Haram.
One thing Nigerians should not make any
mistake about is that Nigeria would now
be subject to the same treatment by
America that Pakistan is now subjected
to. This means that American forces
would be free to operate in Nigeria. We
must know the consequences from the
beginning so that we won’t deceive
ourselves.”
It’s waste of time—Afenifere
The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural
organisation, Afenifere described the
decision by government as a waste of
time.
In a telephone chat with Vanguard,
Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin
said: “Was it a registered organisation
before? Were they registered with the
Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC,
before? It is a waste of time. You have
agreed that the group is faceless, you
now say you want to outlaw it, they are
outlaws already. Which law in Nigeria
says you can bomb and kill people? I
think the government should just do what
needs to be done by flushing out the
insurgents and ensuring that it
addresses the question that led to
insurgency in the first place. Outlawing
Boko Haram is just waste of time. ”
It’s commendable —Arewa Youth group
Commending the Federal Government for
taking such steps, the Arewa Youth
Consultative Forum faulted the idea of
negotiating with the group.
In a telephone chat with Vanguard, its
National President, Alhaji Yerima
Shetimma, said: “Sometimes, we need to
tell ourselves the simple truth. We have
never subscribed to the idea of
negotiating with any terrorist group.
The Federal Government has the muscle to
address the issues but because they lack
the political will, we have found
ourselves in this mess.
It’s a belated decision – Kaita
Also throwing his weight behind the
decision, former governor of
KadunaState, Alhaji Lawal Kaita said:
“It ought to have been outlawed long
ago. They cannot just go on killing
people”.
It won’t change anything – Junaid
SecondRepublic lawmaker, Dr Junaid
Mohammed in his reaction said the
proscription order on Boko Haram members
would not change anything or add value
to the campaign of genocide that is
taking place in the North-East
presently.
He said: “Relatively, Mr President has
been giving selective treatment vendetta
against the North or what could be
called subterfuge to disenfranchise the
North politically. I expect President
Jonathan to also give a proscription
order on Movement for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta (MEND) and people
like Asari Dokubo that has been giving
various threats.
“We are looking for explanations because
this proscription order on Boko Haram
coincides with the announcement of the
United States government putting a
ransom on Shekau”.
Lay down your arms, Abdulsalami
charges sect
Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami
Abubakar has urged members of Boko Haram
to lay down their arms and embrace
dialogue as a means of resolving their
grievances with the Nigerian state.
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, who spoke
yesterday while receiving the
Presidential Committee on Dialogue and
Peaceful Resolution of Security
Challenges in the North during a
courtesy call at his residence in
Minna, pleaded with the group in the
name of Allah and their conscience to
take the opportunity of dialogue offered
by government to end the suffering of
people caught up in the conflict in the
North.
He expressed hope that with the
committee peace would return to the
North as its members comprised people of
impeccable character.
Speaking earlier, chairman of the
Presidential Committee, Minister of
Special Duties and Inter-governmental
Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN),
said the visit was to tap from
Abubakar’s wealth of experience
considering his position as ambassador
of peace in Africa.
Shekau could be tried in U.S, says
official
The US government said that Boko Haram
leader, Abubakar Shekau, accused of
terrorism activities in Nigeria, could
be tried in the US when caught.
Kurt Rice, the US Acting Assistant
Director of Diplomatic Security Threat
Investigations and Analysis Directorate,
said this at a joint tele-news
conference with David Gilmour, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that the tele-conference was aired to
audiences in Abuja, Accra, Dakar, Lagos
and Niamey.
Rice’s comments came a day after the US
offered $23 million (about N3.6bn)
reward for information on the location
of Shekau and leaders of Al-Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb.
(AQIM) and Boko Haram.All the suspects
named in the first U.S. Rewards for
Justice Programme for the sub-region
were accused of being the mastermind of
different cases of kidnap of foreigners
and terror activities in West Africa.
Rice said that Shekau when apprehended
could be charged before a Nigerian court
or “the courts of partner nations
whether in Nigeria, North or West
Africa.”
He hoped that the capture of the Boko
Haram leader would “check” the deadly
attacks in the country linked to the
militant group in the past.
“Our intent is to bring him before a
court. Our intent in offering this
reward at this time is to work with our
Nigeria partners to try and make
(Nigeria) a more stable and secure
area,” he added.
Rice said the U.S. rewards for Justice
programme had a “track record” that had
paid out 125 million dollars (about
N19.8bn) to more than 80 people, who
provided information leading to the
arrest of terrorists, since 1984.
“The fact is that this is a shared fight
against terrorism. This is one tool we
have against terrorism and we find that
overtime it has been enormously
effective and it has saved a lot of
lives and we want to continue doing
that,” he said.
Also speaking, Gilmour ruled out
suggestions that the seven million
dollar (N1.1bn) bounty offered for the
head of Shekau could be counter-
productive to Nigeria government amnesty
offer to the insurgents.
Gilmour reiterated the U.S. position
that security-based solution was not the
only way to address the current security
challenges in Nigeria.
He said the U.S. recognised that among
Northern Nigeria there were legitimate
grievances such as social inequality and
youth unemployment.
“We urge the Nigeria government to take
seriously those grievances of the
general population of Northern Nigeria,”
he said.
He advised Nigeria security operatives,
currently conducting military operations
in three North Eastern states, under the
state of emergency rule, to try and
build the confidence of the population
to keep them safe.
Aniebonam lauds U.S
Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the National
Chairman, New Nigeria Peoples Party
(NNPP), on Tuesday in Lagos lauded the
U.S. for its efforts at ridding Nigeria
of terrorism.
Aniebonam said such assistance,
including placing rewards on the heads
of five leaders of militant groups in
West Africa, would help to track them
down.
Aniebonam said:“Nothing is wrong in the
U.S. wanting to assist Nigeria in the
fight against terrorism.
“Terrorism is a worldwide evil that is
condemnable. The U.S. bounty is part of
its efforts to rid the world of
terrorists because human life remains
sacrosanct to all countries.”
The Lagos State Chairman of the Civil
Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr Ehi
Omokhuale, said that Nigeria should
cooperate more with the American
Government and any other super powers
willing to help to eradicate terrorism
in the country.
“This is why we supported the state of
emergency by the Federal Government.
Terrorism is not something that should
be handled with kid gloves,” he told
NAN.
According to him, the only way to handle
terrorism is to match force with force.
“Our mantra remains never to negotiate
with terrorists.”
The CLO chairman also urged Nigerians to
volunteer information on the Boko Haram
sect.
“What is important is to rid the country
and indeed the world of terrorists,”
Omokhuale added.
Human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu,
said that what was important was an
onslaught on terrorism.
“Every country has a right to choose how
it wants to fight insurgency.
“Nigeria, therefore, should also develop
a home-grown approach that will yield
more results in the fight against
insurgency,” he said.
A cleric, Femi Asiwaju, Vice President,
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN),
said that it was commendable for the
U.S. to come to our rescue, saying that
the new initiative against terrorism was
a move in the right direction.
“The world is paying attention to what
is happening in the country and we thank
God for that. We appreciate the U.S. for
coming out because what we have in our
hands is not a domestic issue.
“Placing such a huge amount on them is
to tell terrorist organisations
worldwide that the U.S. is interested in
what is going on in the country.
“Whatever steps they are taking to put a
stop to the mess, the better for all of
us.”
Another cleric, Monsignor Gabriel Osu,
the Director of Social Communications,
Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, said the
action was a signal that the U.S. meant
business.
He noted that America’s move was part of
their own strategy of fighting
terrorism, adding that it was in their
interest to stop terrorists.
“America is not a Father Christmas
government and nothing goes for nothing;
for them to place such amount of money
on terrorists in our zone, they must
know more than we know about them and
they mean business too.
“They do it all over and often see
beyond what we are seeing,” Osu said.
Osu added that the action was also a
challenge for Nigeria to do more in the
anti-terrorism fight.
In his own reaction, the Chairman,
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja
Branch, Mr Taiwo Taiwo, said the ransom
would help to track down Shekau and
other leaders of Al-qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb, spreading terror in Nigeria and
other West African countries.
Taiwo said that rewarding informants on
the whereabouts of the suspected
terrorists could help in reducing their
attacks across the world.”