The Federal government has said it is not overwhelmed by security challenges facing the country, assuring that it has the wherewithal to deal with the situation and restore law and order.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this on Tuesday in Lagos during a parley with the media.
Mohammed said the Federal government is conscious of the security situation, and working to restore peace, law and order.
The minister berated those he accused of advocating the truncation of Nigeria’s democracy over the security challenges.
“I have read comments saying the Federal government is overwhelmed and does not 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 the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnaping, 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,” he said.
The minister frowned at the negative narrative that the terrorists and bandits have superior firepower over the nation’s military.
He said the military are constraint by the possibility of recording collateral damage.
“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 ISWA, 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,” he said.
Mohammed added: “The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children.
“Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to the security forces, but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue.
“Despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges.”
Mohammed said the recent announcement by the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on the readiness to prosecute 400 suspects arrested for allegedly funding terrorism is a testament of government’s determination to decisively tackle terrorism and other violent crimes.
– Media Report
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