Minister of information and culture Lai Mohammed on Tuesday described as misleading the allegations that the Federal Government was treating bandits with kid gloves.
Mr Mohammed said during an appearance on the NTA breakfast show Good Morning Nigeria that banditry is criminality with no basis on religion or ideology.
He said the approach of the Federal Government through the military in treating criminals is not to make a distinction between bandits and terrorists.
“I think we have been dancing around nomenclature, a criminal is a criminal whether it is a bandit or terrorist and the same measure is being meted out to them,” said Mohammed.
“That is why we find it ridiculous, the accusation that the Federal Government is softer on bandits than the separatists and other criminals.
“This is a fallacy, a fake news and misinformation all into one, and this is the kind of divisive rhetoric being promoted by some naysayers.”
The minister said it is senseless for the military to treat bandits, who are killing soldiers and policemen, with kid gloves.
He added that the method of the military in fighting criminality through the land and air would not allow for any distinction between bandits and other criminals.
According to him, state governors had learnt from the mistakes of the past and resolved that they would not negotiate with bandits.
Mohammed said measures being introduced in the north to check banditry such as suspension of mobile telecommunication networks in certain areas, ban on the sale of petroleum products in jerry cans and at filling stations around the land borders among others are yielding fruits.
