Recently, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN disclosed the federal government’s readiness to introduce a new legislation called ‘New Terrorism Prohibition and Prevention Bill’ that would create tougher sanction for terrorists. KEHINDE OSASONA seeks the views of legal practitioners on the development
I concur, terrorism dangerous to humanity – Kamim Asunogie
Terrorism is not a complimentary expression or development in any society. It is dangerous to government itself and persons that make up a particular geographical entity. If it is dangerous to government and human beings, it is dangerous to humanity.
Therefore, clamping down on terrorism is a decision that government ought to have taken as far back as yesterday, so I concur. And if they delay in taking such decision for any sentiment whatsoever, that government is failing to do what it should do. The thing is; you don’t look at the eyes of those who would suffer from such decision; you look at the eyes of a system that would be crippled by those organisations whose activities are detrimental to public peace.
So, declaring them terrorist organizations is a desire that ought to have taken place long before now irrespective of their religious or ethnic leaning, more so that they are a threat to every Nigerian.
It is a good step – Noel Omeji
If federal government is clamping down on terrorists, I think it is a good step. I mean ordinarily, nobody will want any situation that would enhance terrorism in our society. The federal government has its way of going about these things and with the enormous advisers involved when such decisions are taken, I think it would be a welcome development.
Come to think of it, some groups are already complaining of being labelled a terrorist group, but they should know that government must have gotten facts before linking them to such. Even at that, the alleged group could equally prove beyond reasonable doubt that the allegations are mere assertion if they wished.
FG lacks the will to act – Adama Ocheme Chris
You see, the federal government has paid a lot of lip service on tackling the terrorism menace in the past. In these modern age and time, once a problem is identified, the problem is half way solved. Imagine, they arrested some of these suspects whose actions and inactions linked them to the terrorists group, and they were in detention for like three years only for some to be freed again.
Coupling these explosive; especially IED are quite expensive and it could only take a moneybag to procure such. The money involved here is usually transported through banks and other monetary institutions. Let us not deceive ourselves; I believe that the agencies that are saddled with such task have a lot of information but it’s just that they do not have the will to act on them.
It took FG thirty months to end Biafra war….- Donatus Abah
We have heard so much about the fight against terrorism coupled with its attendant lip service. It is simple; if you want to put an end to it, go ahead and clampdown on the sponsors. It has been said that if things continue in a country unabated, it means that the government of the day knows about it and does not want to put an end to it.
If it could take thirty months to end the Biafra war, why is it taking us almost four years to end terrorism in Nigeria? So, the whole thing boils down to the political will to end this thing. You may have heard that people sponsor these terrorist activities, has any one of them being apprehended? No. Why has it become so difficult, especially when some of their so-called leaders have been arrested? Now, they are even being granted amnesty without extracting information that could assist security agencies from them.
FG should have the moral will – Tochukwu Nwazota
Terrorism is an evil against humanity, society and even the existence of any country. It is not just about how they intend to go about it; it’s about what the federal government ought to have done to stem that tide even before now. There is a terrorism Act, but the question is; do they have the willingness and the moral will to do the needful?
Look at the war jets that we have gone to procure, it would be delivered in 2020; what that suggests is that terrorism fight should wait till 2020. Aside buying jets, I think there should also be security reports to know what to do as at when due. See, it should not just be about clamping down on terrorists, but it should also be about stamping out killings, stopping evils and crimes in our society. Government should wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and properties in the country by exhibiting pro-activeness.
Tougher penalty will do us good – Hope Imoukhuede
It is a welcome development because terrorism is something that we should all stand against. You see, a lot of innocent lives have been wasted; people are dying almost on a daily basis in Nigeria, and all over the world; for me it’s quite unfortunate.
I think at this juncture, tougher penalties will do us good. Sponsors of terrorism are not spirits; they are humans and live amongst us. But then, are we not going to play politics with it when actions needed to be taken? That is the big question now. In Nigeria, we play a lot of politics with the lives of the people. If the government is really serious about fighting terrorism, then let us look at the implementation of the laws guiding it without giving it any religious or ethnic colorations as well as needless sentiments.
Releasing suspects indiscriminately won’t help us – Magnus Urueshone
As regards terrorism and security concerns, my humble view is that the blame games being pushed on whether or not sponsors and all of that, will do us no good and it is needless. From the look of things, our military men have been thriving and getting the so-called Boko Haram people only for some of them to be released indiscriminately. Arrest has not been made yet as regards the alleged Fulani terrorists wreaking havocs in some parts of the country.
At the moment, we do not know who Boko Haram sponsors are. But in order for the proposed clampdown not to be a witch-hunt, there is need to act on available security report in order to wrestle terrorism in our country.
Get the sponsors, stop the act – Stephen Oluebube
I think it would be the right thing for the government to do if they really know the sponsors. For anything to thrive, there must be somebody who is behind it and sponsoring it and once you get that person, the act will stop.
In Nigeria today, terror act has become an everyday thing and we really need to stop it. And if the government has a clue of who the sponsors are, then they should move against them now.
