Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed has responded to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for displaying what he called ‘gross ignorance’ that kidnapping, and banditry are not federal offences.
The Minister who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja, said it was shocking that PDP who ruled the nation for 16 years was ignorant of the legal structure in the country. Mohammed was responded to an allegation by the PDP that kidnappers and bandits were not being brought to book by the Federal Government.
He said, “The PDP alleged that kidnappers and bandits are not being brought to justice. This is apparently aimed at the Federal Government. The PDP should, therefore, call out the states, including those being controlled by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits.
“Meanwhile, PDP conveniently forgot that as far as terrorism offence is concerned, this Federal Government has successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members in Kainji, as part of a continuing exercise. We are now seeking the cooperation of the judiciary to continue with the trial of arrested terrorists,’’ he said.
The minister said the Federal Government was conscious of the challenges facing the nation and doing everything possible to tackle them. While calling on Nigerians to support the efforts of the government to tackle the challenges, Mohammed advised those bent on playing cheap politics with the challenges to have a rethink.
