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Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, has said the need to follow due process is responsible for the delay in declaring bandits as terrorists.
There have been calls on the Federal Government to declare bandits as terrorists, amid accusation that the government is pampering bandits while going after secessionists.
But speaking with journalists in Maiduguri on Friday, Magashi said there is a procedure that needs to be observed before such a declaration.
“We are not declaring them terrorists because there is a procedure for doing that.
“When the procedure is followed, they will be classified as terrorists. We are waiting for the procedure to be completed,” he said.
The minister, who said he was in Maiduguri with the service chiefs to assess the ongoing fight against insurgency in the North East, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far.
Magashi added that his team met with the theatre commander and other component commanders to deliberate on the next phase of operations.
He also said the meeting identified problems that required urgent attention to enhance the security operations.