Lai Mohammed says federal government knows where kidnappers are operating from

INFORMATION minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed has made a startling revelation that the federal government knows where all the kidnapers currently terrorising the nation are hiding and has promised that they will soon be confronted.

Over the last few years, Nigeria gas descended into absolute anarchy with terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, rape and other forms of violent crime becoming daily occurrences. President Buhari's government has come in for fierce criticism for its inability to address the crisis, leading to recent calls for him to resign or be impeached.

Fighting back at critics, Alhaji Mohammed said the insinuation in some quarters that the government was clueless was unfounded, adding that the result of this administration's efforts would soon be evident. He explained that the government indeed knew the locations of the kidnappers and the security agencies were only being careful to avoid civilian casualties.

Alhaji Mohammed said: “It is no longer news that our dear nation is facing security challenges and I have read comments saying the federal government is overwhelmed and doesn’t have a clue as to how to tackle the challenges. Some have even gone as far as suggesting a truncation of the democratic order, a clearly treasonable stance.

“Well, I am here today to assure all Nigerians that while the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict, it is definitely not overwhelmed and indeed it has the wherewithal, as you will see in the days ahead, to confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security. One of the most difficult things to do, for a democratically-elected government, is to use the instruments of coercion against its own people.

"For example, while the nation’s military have superior firepower over the rag tag band of Boko Haram and Iswap, The terrorists most often than not operate among the populace, either in our villages or towns, hence the military, in tackling them, is usually careful to avoid collateral damage.

“The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children. Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to security forces but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue."

He added that despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges. Alhaji Mohammed lamented the attacks on security agencies in some parts of the country, saying they were a declaration of war.