Insecurity: FG Not Overwhelmed, Has Capacity To Crush Bandits, Terrorists — Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says gunmen
terrorising the country will pay for their actions.

There has been a spike in the activities of gunmen across the
country in recent months, with cases of kidnapping for ransom and
banditry being reported weekly.

Several police stations have also come under attacks with many
officers losing their lives.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Mohammed said
the country’s security personnel have been subjected to “mindless”
attacks by gunmen to instill fear and create a sense of
insecurity.

The minister said contrary to the opinion of some citizens, the
federal government is not overwhelmed by the security
challenges.

“I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security
men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war
against the nation,” he said.

“It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with
overwhelming force. When those whose responsibility it is to
protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it
can only be for one reason only; To instill fear and evoke a sense
of pervasive insecurity among the people.

“Whether known or unknown gunmen, those engaged in this
dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions.”

The minister said the federal government is working on a
10-point agenda to tackle the country’s security challenges.

Mohammed listed some of the measures as: “That there is an
urgent need for political restructuring and not separation.

“That the judiciary be decentralised and reformed through
constitutional amendment to remove the unitary control of the
superior courts.

“That governments at all levels should ensure free, qualitative
and compulsory primary education for all children of school
age.”

Mohammed also appealed to the media “to play its part in dousing
the pervasive tension”.

“While the government continues with these efforts to restore
peace and security continues, I want to appeal to all of us to
play
our part in lowering the palpable tension in the polity as a result
of the security challenges,” he said.

“The first step is to tone down the rhetoric. While the media
must continue to carry out its primary responsibility to inform,
criticise and stimulate debate, it must also realise that it can
only carry out this responsibility in an atmosphere of peace and
security.”

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says gunmen
terrorising the country will pay for their actions.

There has been a spike in the activities of gunmen across the
country in recent months, with cases of kidnapping for ransom and
banditry being reported weekly.

Several police stations have also come under attacks with many
officers losing their lives.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Mohammed said
the country’s security personnel have been subjected to “mindless”
attacks by gunmen to instill fear and create a sense of
insecurity.

The minister said contrary to the opinion of some citizens, the
federal government is not overwhelmed by the security
challenges.

“I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security
men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war
against the nation,” he said.

“It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with
overwhelming force. When those whose responsibility it is to
protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it
can only be for one reason only; To instill fear and evoke a sense
of pervasive insecurity among the people.

“Whether known or unknown gunmen, those engaged in this
dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions.”

The minister said the federal government is working on a
10-point agenda to tackle the country’s security challenges.

Mohammed listed some of the measures as: “That there is an
urgent need for political restructuring and not separation.

“That the judiciary be decentralised and reformed through
constitutional amendment to remove the unitary control of the
superior courts.

“That governments at all levels should ensure free, qualitative
and compulsory primary education for all children of school
age.”

Mohammed also appealed to the media “to play its part in dousing
the pervasive tension”.

“While the government continues with these efforts to restore
peace and security continues, I want to appeal to all of us to
play
our part in lowering the palpable tension in the polity as a result
of the security challenges,” he said.

“The first step is to tone down the rhetoric. While the media
must continue to carry out its primary responsibility to inform,
criticise and stimulate debate, it must also realise that it can
only carry out this responsibility in an atmosphere of peace and
security.”