FG Reveals Difference Between Bandits And IPOB

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said there is a difference between the bandits and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) proscribed by the Federal Government.

He revealed the difference while defending the Federal Government’s refusal to proscribe bandits ravaging states in the country.

Speaking on AIT on Wednesday, Mohammed said IPOB does not believe in the unity of Nigeria, while bandits are just criminals.

He said, “When a group is championing a course for the disintegration of Nigeria… A group like IPOB (that) does not even recognise Nigeria as a state, sets up its own army and thinks it is a sovereign state is different from bandits and criminals. Please, don’t compare apples and oranges.”

Asked if the bandits aren’t also threatening the sovereignty of Nigeria by taking up arms against the citizens, the Minister said the cases are completely different.

He said, “Security challenges are one thing. Challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria is a completely different thing. Don’t let us dwell on semantics.”

“Don’t armed robbers threaten the security of lives and property? They do. Is there anywhere in the world that armed robbers have been proscribed?”

Mohammed also said President Buhari cannot proscribe bandits in Nigeria because they are nameless.

According to the Minister, proscribing the bandits is not what really matters but how they are treated by the government.

Lai Mohammed said: “You proscribe known groups with names. You can’t just proscribe an unknown group legally.”

“Secondly, it’s not whether they are proscribed or not, it is the way they are treated. Does the government actually treat them with kid gloves? The answer is no.”