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Bandits Are Simple Criminals, They Have No Flags Like Boko Haram & IPOB- Lai Mohammed
The Minister of Data and Tradition, Lai Mohammed has stated the armed bandits terrorising North-West and another elements of Northern Nigeria are frequent criminals.
He stated not like Boko Haram and the Indigenous Folks of Biafra (IPOB) who’ve ideologies and flags, they’re easier criminals.
In accordance with him, bandits are simply frequent criminals who consider in Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty, not like Boko Haram and IPOB.
The Minister made this identified on Monday throughout an interview on TVC’s ‘This Morning’ programme.
Mohammed, considered one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers, due to this fact, famous that bandits shouldn’t be in contrast with Boko Haram insurgents and IPOB separatists as a result of they can’t be connected to a non secular or an ideological objective.
“The distinction between IPOB, Boko Haram on one aspect and bandits is that, whereas IPOB and Boko Haram are pushed by ideology, a perception that they don’t wish to be half Nigeria, bandits haven’t any flags.
“Bandits haven’t any flag. Bandits are easy criminals. There’s no distinction between bandits and different criminals aside from their ferocity,” the minister stated. “Bandits have by no means stated they don’t consider in Nigeria, they’re simply pure criminals,” he stated.
The feedback of the Minister got here amidst rising requires Buhari to declare bandits and killer herdsmen as terrorists.
Earlier in October, Mohammed on the Nigerian Tv Authority programme, “Good Morning Nigeria,’’ stated the accusation the Buhari authorities was treating bandits with child gloves was inaccurate and deceptive.
Talking on the difficulty in the course of the programme monitored by the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister stated the method of the Nigerian authorities by way of the navy in treating criminals is to not make a distinction between bandits and terrorists.
“I feel now we have been dancing round nomenclature, a legal is a legal whether or not it’s a bandit or terrorist and the identical measure is being meted out to them.
“That’s the reason we discover it ridiculous, the accusation that the federal authorities is softer on bandits than the separatists and different criminals.
“It is a fallacy, a pretend information and misinformation all into one, and that is the sort of divisive rhetoric being promoted by some naysayers.”
“It’s mindless for the navy to deal with bandits, who’re killing troopers and policemen, with kid-gloves.
“The tactic of the navy in combating criminality by way of the land and air wouldn’t permit for any distinction between bandits and different criminals,” he had stated.
