Bandits, Terrorists Different From IPOB, Says El-Rufai

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the way
bandits and Boko Haram terrorists operate is different from that of
the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking to BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai stated that bandits are not
calling for the break up of Nigeria but are just carrying out their
activities as a form of business.

He said unlike IPOB which is led by Nnamdi Kanu, bandits have no
centralised leadership.

The governor said, “I was very happy (when Nnamdi Kanu was
arrested) because, first he jumped bail, jeopardising his
sureties.

“Secondly, a person that challenges the sovereignty and the
authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own
country as a zoo.

“This should be a message to all these separatists challenging
the authority of the Nigerian State to be very careful.”

Asked if Boko Haram and bandits should be treated with the same
swiftness that led to Kanu’s arrest, El-Rufai said, “No! No! No!
No! People are comparing apples to oranges.

“Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation.
He is identifiable, in constant communication and everyone knows
where he is.

“Let’s take Boko Haram for instance. Shekau was in hiding and
for the past 10 years and the military had been waging a war to get
him.

“It is not like Shekau was in Saudi Arabia, sitting in one
place, tweeting about the break up of Nigeria or asking Boko Haram
to go and kill Helen and Nasir el-Rufai.

“Nnamdi Kanu is in one place while Shekau is waging guerrilla
warfare. The insurgency is still going on and the Federal
Government is not giving up.

“Regarding bandits, they are not centralised under one
leadership. Who is the head of the bandits? Who is the equivanlent
of Nmandi Kanu with banditry?

“Bandits are just collections of independent criminals. It is a
business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.

“I want to challenge anyone to tell me the central leader of
bandits in the same position as Kanu.”

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said the way
bandits and Boko Haram terrorists operate is different from that of
the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking to BBC Pidgin, El-Rufai stated that bandits are not
calling for the break up of Nigeria but are just carrying out their
activities as a form of business.

He said unlike IPOB which is led by Nnamdi Kanu, bandits have no
centralised leadership.

The governor said, “I was very happy (when Nnamdi Kanu was
arrested) because, first he jumped bail, jeopardising his
sureties.

“Secondly, a person that challenges the sovereignty and the
authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own
country as a zoo.

“This should be a message to all these separatists challenging
the authority of the Nigerian State to be very careful.”

Asked if Boko Haram and bandits should be treated with the same
swiftness that led to Kanu’s arrest, El-Rufai said, “No! No! No!
No! People are comparing apples to oranges.

“Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation.
He is identifiable, in constant communication and everyone knows
where he is.

“Let’s take Boko Haram for instance. Shekau was in hiding and
for the past 10 years and the military had been waging a war to get
him.

“It is not like Shekau was in Saudi Arabia, sitting in one
place, tweeting about the break up of Nigeria or asking Boko Haram
to go and kill Helen and Nasir el-Rufai.

“Nnamdi Kanu is in one place while Shekau is waging guerrilla
warfare. The insurgency is still going on and the Federal
Government is not giving up.

“Regarding bandits, they are not centralised under one
leadership. Who is the head of the bandits? Who is the equivanlent
of Nmandi Kanu with banditry?

“Bandits are just collections of independent criminals. It is a
business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.

“I want to challenge anyone to tell me the central leader of
bandits in the same position as Kanu.”