The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said the federal government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari deals with bandits same way it deals with separatists and criminals.
Goldennewsng.com reports Mohammed stated this on Tuesday when he featured on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”.
Speaking on renewed onslaught against bandits, the Minister stressed that it was erroneous and misleading to accuse the FG of treating bandits with kid-gloves.
The Minister said banditry is criminality with no basis on religion or ideology.
He said the approach of the federal government through the military in treating criminals is not to make a distinction between bandits and terrorists.
“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.
“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, a fake news and misinformation all into one, and this is the kind of divisive rhetoric being promoted by some naysayers,’’ he said.
Mohammed said it is senseless for the military to treat bandits, who are killing soldiers and policemen, with kid-gloves.
He added that the method of the military in fighting criminality through the land and air would not allow for any distinction between bandits and other criminals.
