Buhari regime denies giving bandits preferential treatments

The Buhari regime has denied claims in some quarters that the administration is giving preferential treatment to bandits terrorising residents in the Northern part of the country.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed made the denial in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend.

The heinous activities of herdsmen-turned-bandits have recently spiked in the Northern region, particularly in the North West geo-political zone where abduction of school children for ransom is now being viewed business, according to Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.

In July, Mr El-rufai, contrary to the claims of the minister, said the Buhari administration was not against bandits because they have no secession agenda but were only terrorising citizens to make ends meet.

But denying the incumbent administration was treating the criminals, said to be the president’s kinsmen, with kids gloves, the government propagandist said the bandits were being treated in like manner as separatists agitators in the Southern region.

“The truth of the matter is that the Federal Government does not make a distinction between terrorists and bandits,” Mr Mohammed explained. “As far as the Federal Government is concerned they are all criminals and they are treated the same way.

“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 queried.