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Addressing Kidnapping, Banditry Not Buhari’s Govt Responsibility – Lai Mohammed
“Federal government has successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members in Kainji”
Information Minister Lai Mohammed has said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is not obligated to end the scourge of banditry and kidnapping that have plagued the country for months on end.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Mohammed said governors should be held responsible for kidnapping and banditry in their domain, noting that such offences are not under the prosecutorial purview of the federal government.
The minister’s exoneration of his principal from the troubling state of the name comes amid strident clamour for government to take drastic, proactive and decisive step in addressing the wave of banditry, abductions and other criminalities that pervade the country.
There’s been inexorable rise in insecurity as non-state actors continue to unleash terror and occupy vast swathes of land, especially in northern states.
In April, Ekohotblog reported how bandits attacked Greenfield University in Kaduna abducting over 20 of students. Over 30 students of Federal College of Farm Mechanisation, also in Kaduna had earlier been abducted. Many of the students remain in captivity while a few have either been killed or released after their families paid ransom.
Lai Mohammed
The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, on Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his responsibility and and tackle the challenges definitely.
Seconds bemoaned the deepening security crisis in the country, especially in Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Katsina and Zamafara.
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In response, Mohammed said prosecuting suspected kidnappers and bandits was not part of the federal government responsibilities.
He charged the opposition party to pester state governments, including those under its control, to ensure swift and rigorous prosecution of those committing atrocities in their enclave.
“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 minister said.
“The PDP should therefore call out the states, including those being controlled by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits,” he added.
The minister further claimed that Buhari had successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members.
“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,” the minister said.
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