FG Lies, Says No Preferential Treatment Between Separatists and Bandits
FG Lies, Says No Preferential Treatment Between Separatists and Bandits
The Federal Government says there is no preferential treatment between groups advocating separation from the country and bandits, especially in the North West Zone.
This clarification was made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The minister described as misleading and erroneous the notion that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were getting harder clampdown from security forces.
“We noticed that of recent, there is this misinformation as regards the way the Federal Government, especially the military, is handling the issue of banditry and terrorism.
“There is this misconception that the Federal Government is softer on the terrorists in the North East and the bandits from the North West and the way they handle separatists and other criminals from the South East and South West.
“I want to say without any hesitation that this is a fallacy. It is a misrepresentation, misinformation and fake news all rolled into one.
“The truth of the matter is that the Federal Government does not make a distinction between terrorists and bandits.
” As far as the Federal Government is concerned they are all criminals and they are treated the same way.
“It is very important to set the record straight. Why do I say this? Because, it is a continuation of the destructive rhetoric of some commentators,’’ he said.
The minister further said that the issue of security of the country should not be politicised because of its sensitive nature.
He said: “The issue of security must not be politicised. Security is security. Bandits kill soldiers; they kill policemen and innocent people.
” So, why will the military be softer on one set of criminals than the other?
The minister reiterated the position of the Federal Government to build more on the ongoing peace process across the country as well as tackle bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups.
FG Lies, Says No Preferential Treatment Between Separatists and Bandits.
The federal government should come out clear and declare the bandits a terrorist group, Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association are also sponsoring crises among farmers and headers, and as such should be included in the terrorist group list in Nigeria,
Until the government do the needful, Nigerians will see the current APC led government as a dishonest government supporting terrorist groups.
You will recall that the Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi, warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government not to declare bandits killing and abducting people in the North as terrorists.
The Sunni scholar said declaring them as terrorists would come with a big price.
The APC led Federal Government work in cohort with Mr Gumi, an ex-soldier and a medical doctor who has been campaigning for amnesty for the outlaws terrorising states in the north-west and some parts of north-central Nigeria.
He had been to forests in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and the Zamfara States to meet with governors and some notorious bandits with a view to striking a peace deal with the outlaws.
Recently, some Nigerians, including Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina and the forum of House of Assembly Speakers, urged the federal government to declare the bandits as terrorists. The Senate had also made a similar call in September.
Will it be proper to say there is No Preferential Treatment Between Separatists and Bandits?
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