Bandits Have Not Taken Over – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has come out to say that the fact that bandits are imposing levies on communities does not mean they have taken control.

He recently revealed this during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to an article by The Economist magazine titled, ‘Insurgency, secessionism and banditry threaten Nigeria.’

According to him, the London-based magazine was clearly wrong to claim that terrorists had carved caliphates for themselves in the North-East because that is just not true.

He added that imposing levies does not mean criminals are in charge because it takes place in many parts of the country, including in the South where touts commonly impose levies.

His words, “Do you know how many places in this country where area boys collect taxes? And there is no terrorism or banditry there. I don’t want to mention names.”

“In many of our cities, they carve out their own territory. So, it is not indicative of the bandits have taken over.”

“No. I know many areas in Nigeria both in the South and the North where these kinds of things happen. So, it is not the same thing.”

“President Muhammadu Buhari won re-election by over three million votes. So, The Economist and other arms of the group are not infallible.”