The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has claimed that the notorious gunmen, well known as bandits, terrorising Northern parts of the country are “simple criminals”.
The minister stated this during his appearance on a TVC program on Monday while noting there is a distinct difference between bandits and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Boko Haram.
According to Alhaji Lai Mohammed; “The difference between IPOB, Boko Haram on one side and bandits is that, while IPOB and Boko Haram are driven by ideology, a belief that they don’t want to be part Nigeria, bandits have no flags.
“Bandits have no flag. Bandits are simple criminals. There’s no difference between bandits and other criminals other than their ferocity,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the Minister in an earlier report by NewsWireNGR had claimed the federal government was not treating the bandits with kid glove.
Speaking when he featured on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme, “Good Morning Nigeria”, the minister said; “a criminal is a criminal whether it is a bandit or terrorist and the same measure is being meted out to them”.
Mohammed had stated it is senseless for the military to treat bandits, who are killing soldiers and policemen, with kid-gloves.
However, the minister in his recent differentiation of bandits from IPOB and Boko Haram said; “Bandits have never said they don’t believe in Nigeria, they are just pure criminals”.
