Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said on Thursday that the Buhari administration has succeeded in clipping some of the tactics of Boko Haram insurgents.
Speaking at a meeting with the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigerian (NPAN) in Lagos, Mohammed said the occupation of territories in the country by insurgents is now “a thing of the past”.
“Now, let’s put things in context. Before Mr. President assumed office, Boko Haram could stroll into any city, especially in the north, to carry out deadly attacks. Abuja, the nation’s capital, Kano, Maiduguri, Jos, Damaturu, etc were regularly targeted,” he said.
“Motor parks, churches, mosques, shopping complexes were not spared. Today, that is a thing of the past. Suicide bombers used to have a field day detonating their bombs and killing innocent people.
“Today, that is no longer the case. Detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used to be a deadly tactic of Boko Haram. Today, that has changed.
“Boko Haram used to occupy territory, deposing and installing Emirs and collecting taxes. That’s no longer the case. These changes are not mere happenstance. They are part of the successes recorded by the military, under this president.”
At least 43 rice farmers had their throats slit by the insurgents on Saturday in Zabarmari community in Borno.
The minister said those asking the president to resign over insecurity are “playing dirty politics”.
