Buhari's Minister Lai Mohammed Opens Up on What FG Won’t Do With Bandits

Buhari's Minister Lai Mohammed Opens Up on What FG Won’t Do With Bandits

  • The activities of bandits in the country have not only hindered economic growth, rather it has inflicted hardship on the people in affected areas
  • This indeed is not pleasing to the government, especially the present administration which has vowed to crush banditry in Nigeria
  • In a recent interview, Buhari's minister, Lai Mohammed, revealed why the federal government would not negotiate with bandits

The minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the federal government will not be involved in any dialogue with bandits.

The minister made this disclosure during an interview with Daily Trust, on Monday, February 21.

According to him, banditry in Nigeria is a very complex issue, one that the FG cannot handle alone.

Lai Mohammed opens up on Why FG Won’t Dialogue With Bandits
Lai Mohammed disclosed that Nigeria is gradually winning the war against banditry. Photo credit: Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Nigeria
Source: Facebook

Speaking further, the minister affirmed that due to the complexity of the issue, state governments should be allowed to decide on whether they would go into agreement with bandits or not.

Read also

2023: Nigeria Agenda inducts 300 volunteers in southeast, reiterate call for new Nigeria

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

He said:

“I think we should leave it to individual state governments to decide on whether they are going to enter into any agreement with bandits or not. The federal government cannot decree by fiat. Unknown to many people, there are lots of things going on behind the scenes where bandits are surrendering."

The minister added that the designation of bandits as terrorists has aided the fight against insecurity, adding that it had made possible, the use of excessive force, which hitherto was not an option.

Tinubu: FG capable of crushing Boko Haram, armed bandits

Meanwhile, former Lagos state governor and frontline presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, January 13, expressed confidence that the federal government will crush Boko Haram terrorists and armed bandits in northern Nigeria.

Read also

Breaking: Abductors of Sokoto Councillor make huge demand

Tinubu made the statement while on a visit to commiserate with Governor Bello Matawalle over the recent carnage by bandits in Zamfara state.

He was quoted as saying:

“We believe in President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to restore law and order and bring back our country to stability and tracks of development.”

Insecurity: Nigerian military using internationally approved practices

In another report, an American journalist, Daniel Furnad carefully analysed the security situation in Nigeria under the administration of President Buhari.

Furnad who is also a conflict resolution expert said that the Nigerian military under the present administration is tackling terrorism within the best international standard and rules of engagement.

The journalist said this while speaking via Skype at a conference for non-governmental organisations, conflict managers, journalists, and civil society organisations.

Legit.ng notes that Furnad's assessment comes at a time Nigeria is facing several security challenges apart from terrorism. These include banditry, kidnapping, among others.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.