Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has stated that combating banditry and kidnapping are not part of the duties of the federal government.
Mohammed stated this while reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Uche Secondus’s call for President Muhammadu Buhari to sit up and tackle the challenges headlong.
Secondus had raised concern over the growing insecurity around the country, condemning the increase of cases of murder, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism across the country, especially in Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Katsina and Zamafara.
Reacting to Secondus’s position, the minister said banditry and kidnapping are not federal offence and Governors of the states where such crimes are carried out should be held responsible. He also claimed that Buhari had successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members.
His word:
“The PDP alleged that kidnappers and bandits are not being brought to justice. This is apparently aimed at the federal government. It is shocking that a party that ruled this nation for all of 16 years does not know that kidnapping and banditry are not federal offences.
“The PDP should therefore call out the states, including those being controlled by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits.
“Meanwhile, PDP conveniently forgot that as far as terrorism, a federal offence, is concerned, this federal government has successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members in Kainji, as part of a continuing exercise. We are now seeking the cooperation of the judiciary to continue with the trial of arrested terrorists.”
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