All the 36 Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to without delay, declare bandits as terrorists.
The Speakers who noted that the bandits are enemies of the nation made the call at the end of their meeting in Katsina State on Sunday.
The Chairman of the Conference, who is also Bauchi Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman made the mind of his colleagues on the matter known while speaking on the five-point communiqué issued at the end of their meeting.
Naija News understands the lawmakers issued the communiqué at the end of their third annual meeting which lasted for about 8 hours.
They noted that there is no difference in how the bandits operate and how terrorists operate as well, saying the bandits have caused pain to the nation and many households.
Suleiman said: ’’We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits as terrorists and enemies of the state. The Conference has observed all the activities carried out by the bandits as containing the same mode of operations used by terrorists.
‘’The Conference also decried the state of insecurity in the country, and resolved to work out legislative frameworks, to complement the efforts of the Federal Government to address the security challenges in the country’’.
‘’In addition, the Conference also resolved to make appropriate laws to address the fundamental issues that breed insecurity in the land, as well as create employment for the youths and curb the menace of insecurity in the country’’.
The Speakers’ Conference as part of their resolutions, also reiterated their calls for the State Governors to give financial autonomy to the state legislatures and judiciary.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed readiness to investigate kidnappings in northern Nigeria, closure of schools, and the persistent failure of the federal and state authorities to end such.
Naija News reports that this was made known by ICC’s prosecutor, Karim A. Khan, in a statement to newsmen on Sunday by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
This article was originally published on Naija News