A former National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of not taking the issue of bandits and kidnappers seriously.
The group’s chieftain claimed that the present administration is more concerned about dealing with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
While stating that is not how to move a country forward, Ibegbu said everyone must be treated equally.
He said: “It’s obvious that the Federal government is treating the issue of banditry with kid gloves and it’s very clear to everybody.
“Federal Government is treating them (bandits) with levity and is more concerned with Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB, and pro-Biafra agitators. Any little issue in the Southeast would be taken with all seriousness, but bandits, kidnappers, marauders, and Boko Haram are treated with kid gloves.
“This is not how to move a country forward or how to unite the country. Everybody should be treated equally.
“Those agitating are patriots. If you are agitating for something and you are not a bandit, killer, but pushing for fairness; you should not be seen as a terrorist.
“To be treating those killing and abducting people for ransom with kid gloves shows a high level of nepotism in the system.”
Recall that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had ruled that bandits operating in the North-west and North-central regions of the country can now be referred to as insurgent groups
The judge asserted that the activities of bandits in the two regions can be termed as acts of terrorism.
The ruling follows an ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Affirming the declaration in a statement made available to newsmen, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed Abubakar, said the order to tag bandits as terrorists was given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Abubakar said that the government decided to tag Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other bandits groups in the country as terrorists due to their involvement in the killings of security agents.
This article was originally published on Naija News