Lai Mohammed, minister of
information and culture, says gunmen terrorising the country will pay for their
actions.
There has been a spike in the
activities of gunmen across the country who have engaged in kidnapping for
ransom and banditry.
Addressing a press conference in
Lagos on Tuesday, Mohammed said the country’s security personnel have been
subjected to “mindless” attacks by gunmen to instill fear and create a sense of
insecurity.
The minister said contrary to the
opinion of some citizens, the federal government is not overwhelmed by the
security challenges.
“I want to say, unequivocally,
that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a
declaration of war against the nation,” he said.
“It follows, therefore, that this
will be countered with overwhelming force. When those whose responsibility it
is to protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it can
only be for one reason only; To instill fear and evoke a sense of pervasive
insecurity among the people.
“Whether known or unknown gunmen,
those engaged in this dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions.”
The minister said the federal
government is working on a 10-point agenda to tackle the country’s security
challenges.
Mohammed listed some of the
measures as: “That there is an urgent need for political restructuring and not
separation.
“That the judiciary be
decentralised and reformed through constitutional amendment to remove the
unitary control of the superior courts.
“That governments at all levels
should ensure free, qualitative and compulsory primary education for all
children of school age.”
Mohammed also appealed to the
media “to play its part in dousing the pervasive tension”.
“While the government continues
with these efforts to restore peace and security continues, I want to appeal to
all of us to play
our part in lowering the palpable
tension in the polity as a result of the security challenges,” he said.
“The first step is to tone down
the rhetoric. While the media must continue to carry out its primary
responsibility to inform, criticise and stimulate debate, it must also realise
that it can only carry out this responsibility in an atmosphere of peace and
security.”
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