By Adadainfo
The federal government is considering a nationwide ban of commercial motorcycle and mining activities to combat terrorist activities in Nigeria.
The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.
He said such action would eliminate sources of funds to the terrorists, and bandits and limit their mobilty in Nigeria.
The AGF said these logistics include motorcycles used for movement, and mining which provides them with the money to fund their arms supply.
He said, “The federal government is now looking at ways to inhibit their actions by blocking the sources already identified.
“The issues deliberated border on one – the logistics being used by the terrorists, Boko Haram, and bandits among others in the act of executing their unfortunate act of terrorism.
“It was extensively deliberated upon as to what needs to be done to ensure that their means of logistics are indeed adequately considered and necessary steps are taken in degrading their capacity to move around.”
According to him, “The government would look into that possibility with particular regard 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. As you rightly know, recently the government assented to certain bills inclusive of the money laundering, prevention, and prohibition act.
“With the passage of that law, and assented to, the conventional means of terrorist funding and financing were substantially and drastically addressed, and that led to forensic analysis of and identification of certain personalities that were in one way or the other connected with terrorism funding and financing.
“But then, 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 to address them accordingly.
“The government is looking at what measures to take in terms of addressing, bridging and blocking the associated sources of funding, including ransom payment and indeed, the mining activities and the possibility or otherwise of suspending, for the time being, mining activities.
“Again, other than logistics and funding, mining, other considerations were equally put in place, with particular regard to the unfortunate incident of the Correctional Service attacks and equally, there were anticipated resolutions arising from the consequences associated with dereliction of duty.
“Issues associated with logistics of terrorists and bandits, blockage of the source of funding, and the consequences for dereliction of duty if indeed it established arising from the report expected and anticipated relating to the Kuje correctional incident.”
Malami noted that terrorists have moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking, making it necessary for the government to act.
