Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, says the need to follow due process is responsible for the delay in declaring bandits as terrorists.
Magashi said this in Maiduguri on Friday. He said there is a procedure that needs to be observed before such a declaration.
Many stakeholders, including state governors, had called on the Federal Government to declare bandits as terrorists, base on the atrocities they have committed.
“When the procedure is followed, they will be classified as terrorists. We are waiting for the procedure to be completed,” Magashi said.
He said he was in Maiduguri with the service chiefs to assess the ongoing fight against insurgency in the north-east.
Magashi also said the visit also afford them to identify problems that required urgent attention to enhance the security operations.
