FG not overwhelmed by security challenges -Lai Mohammed

• insists security agencies have wherewithal to crush bandits, terrorists

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that contrary to widespread belief, the Federal Government is not overwhelmed with the escalating insecurity in the country.

The Minister said this at a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, stressing that the government and its security agencies have the wherewithal in terms of personnel and fire power to crush bandits, insurgents, criminals and other enemies of the Nigerian state.

He said, “It is no longer news that our dear nation is facing security challenges. However, 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.”

He continued: “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 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.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the government retains total confidence in the ability of our security forces to tackle the security challenges we are facing now, whether it is terrorism, banditry, kidnapping or even the farmer-herder conflict.

“We therefore appeal to all Nigerians to continue to support our security agencies, who today face the added task of having to watch their backs while working to protect us. The least we can do is to give them our unalloyed support,” he added.

The Minister used the occasion to appeal to the media to help in dowsing tension in the land rather than aggravate it with how the challenges facing the country is reported.