Following efforts to tackle Banditry and terrorism in Nigeria, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has stated that the Federal Government has said that the accusation in certain quarters that it treats bandits with kid-gloves is ‘erroneous and misleading’.
Stating this on the Nigeria Television Authority programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”, on Tuesday, he said, “Banditry is criminality with no basis on religion or ideology.”
According to him, “The approach of the federal government through the military in treating criminals is not to make a distinction between bandits and terrorists.”
He disclosed that, “I think we have been dancing around nomenclature, a criminal is a criminal whether it is a bandit or terrorist and the same measure is being meted out to them.”
He added that, “That is why we find it ridiculous, the accusation that the federal government is softer on bandits than the separatists and other criminals. This is a fallacy, fake news and misinformation all into one, and this is the kind of divisive rhetoric being promoted by some naysayers.”
Mohammed reportedly stated that, ” It is senseless for the military to treat bandits, who are killing soldiers and policemen, with kid-gloves. The method of the military in fighting criminality through the land and air would not allow for any distinction between bandits and other criminals.”
The Minister made it known that, “With the renewed onslaught against bandits and certain measures taken by the governors of the states where bandits are operating, they are winning the war.”
He continued that, “The governors had learnt from the mistakes of the past and had resolved that they would not negotiate with bandits but to go after them and not spare them.”
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