Terrorist attacks: FG contemplates nationwide ban on motorcycles, mining activities

THE National Security Council, NSC, yesterday, revealed it was considering a nationwide ban on motorcycles and mining to cut off the sources of funds for terrorists.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in company of the Interior and his Police Affairs counterparts, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Mohammed Dingyadi, respectively, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said tthe meeting was focused on the logistics used by terrorists.

Malami said the logistics include motorcycles used by terrorists for movement, collection of ransom and mining, which provides them the money to fund their arms supply.
He said the Federal Government was now looking at ways to inhibit their actions by blocking the sources already identified.

Malami noted that terrorists had moved from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking, adding that this had made it necessary for the government to act.

The AGF stated: “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 and terrorising the country.

“It was extensively deliberated upon as to what needs to be done for the purpose of ensuring that their means of logistics are indeed adequately considered and necessary steps are taken in degrading their capacity to move around.

So, discussions were carried out, deliberations made and sizeable resolutions in that direction were equally developed.

“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 acts were discussed and deliberated upon and considered. As you rightly know, recently the government under the leadership of President Buhari had indeed, passed, assented to certain bills inclusive of the money laundering, prevention and prohibition act among others.

“A resolution was equally developed on the need to address frontally, attack and ensure at the end of the day that other considerations being put in place by terrorists in terms of funding their activities are equally addressed.

With that in mind, the government is looking at what measures to take in terms of addressing, bridging and blocking associated sources of funding, including payment for ransom and, indeed, the mining activities and the possibility or otherwise of suspending for the time being, mining activities, are being considered as well, by the government.