Where is AK-47? Anger as defence minister tells Nigerians to "stand and face" armed bandits in viral video
Major-Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi, Nigeria's minister of defence, on Thursday, February 18, came under fierce criticism after he was reported to have told Nigerians to stop being "cowards" and face armed bandits whenever they are attacked.
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
Reacting to the abduction of Kagara college students in Niger state in a now-viral video, the defence minister said he does not know the reason people take to their feet whenever their attackers fire shots.
Magashi boasted that during his generation, there was a substantial resistance to retaliate attacks from criminal elements, adding that ''it is the responsibility of everybody to be alert."
Source: Twitter
“We shouldn’t be cowards. Sometimes bandits come with about three rounds of ammunition and when they fire shots everybody will run. In our younger days, we stand to fight any form of aggression. Why should people run away from minor, minor aggressions?"
The statement of the defence minister, however, did not augur well with Nigerians who have taken to social media to brutally criticise him.
Emma Umeh wrote:
"The minister of defence is calling on Nigerians to defend themselves against Bandits (Terrorist), he wants us to defend ourselves against people that are carrying guns &using RPGs, with our bare hands. Meanwhile, this same man has one of the best security, protecting him. It's well.
A lawyer, Jag Ganiyu also wrote"
"I realised early on that in terms of security, we have to fend for ourselves. The minister of Defence said nothing new."
Omotayo also wrote:
"It's very easy to gain a spot in Buhari's administration, just be incompetent, useless and back it up with lies foolishness, imagine what the minister of defence is spitting out, will they defend themselves if bandits attack one of their clueless gatherings in Abuja?"
Sam Jonah wrote:
"Minister of Defence said we should defend ourselves against bandits and stop being cowards, the same bandits with RPGs. What type of one chance is this?"
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news
Umeh also wrote:
"Minister of defence said he will collect taxpayers money and not do his job. He also said if you hear bandits shooting AK47 and run you’re a coward. Finally, he said they won’t legalize guns, that the Jet Lee movies you’ve watched is enough training for you to fight."
Popular comedian, Frank Donga, also tweeted;
"When a serving minister of DEFENCE who has 24-hrs protection by loads of ARMED officers calls poor unarmed citizens COWARDS for not fighting ARMED bandits, you know there is trouble."
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that hours after the abduction of Kagara students of Government Science College in Niger, one of the state's senators Sani Musa (Niger East) said the abductors were terrorists, not bandits as popularly assumed.
Speaking with Channels TV on Wednesday, February 17, Musa likened the unfortunate abduction to that of Chibok (Borno), Dapchi (Yobe) and Kankara (Katsina).
*****
Rahaman Abiola is a result-oriented journalist and content writer with a firm grip of over 5-year corporate experience stranding diverse roles in digital & traditional media and social media communication.
A published literary writer, freelancer and public commentator, he has written over 100 essays covering diverse issues on economy, politics and current affairs, entertainment and leadership published in virtually all notable Nigerian national dailies and digital media in Nigeria.
He is a graduate of English Literature, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Follow him on Twitter via @ShugabanR.
Source: Legit.ng
