Following a ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja declaring bandits as terrorists, the Nigerian Air Force is set to deploy Super Tucano aircraft in the North-West and North-Central regions of the country, especially in Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Punch reports.

It can be recalled that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja had, in a ruling on Thursday, November 25, 2021, declared activities of Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups as acts of terrorism.

The ruling followed an ex parte motion filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar.

After entertaining the ex parte application, Justice Taiwo declared the activities of the Yan Bindiga, group” and the “Yan Ta’adda groups and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the North-West and the North-Central as “acts of terrorism and illegality.”

The judge also made “an order restraining any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga group and the Yan Ta’adda group under any other name or platform however called or described.”

The military had been reluctant to deploy the aircraft outside the North-East because of the conditions attached to the sale of the aircraft by the United States, which was anchored on human rights.

Top sources in the military disclose that the coast had become clear to deploy the Super Tucano aircraft against bandits in the North-West and North-Central, following the court order declaring them as terrorists.

A top General said “We are waiting for instructions from the government for the next line of action. This was one of the things the Service Chiefs discussed with the President on Thursday morning. So, we await further instructions.”

The acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen, Bernard Onyeuko, however, said the announcement on the next step would be made at the appropriate time.

He said, “Wait for us, we would brief you people at the appropriate time. For now, allow us to do our work.”