"Our New Strategy": Defence Minister Mentions Those to Be Arrested Over Banditry
- Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, has vowed that anyone doing business with bandits and terrorists would not be spared by the military
- General Musa, who retired as Chief of Defence Staff and became a minister, made the declaration during his visit to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna
- The minister's statement came amid the growing insecurity in the country, and it started generating reactions from Nigerians
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has disclosed that the defence authority will start dealing with anyone who sympathises with, supports or does business with bandits and terrorists.
The minister explained that "a friend of a thief is a thief", adding that the announcement was the new strategy of the military in its fight against terrorism.
Source: Twitter
General Musa made the comment during his visit to Governor Uba Sani at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, before the meeting of the Kaduna Expanded Security Council on Monday, April 13.
His statement reads in part:
"Now, our new strategy: A friend of a thief is a thief. Anybody who is doing any trading or providing any support to them, we will find you together, and we will deal with you like bandits, like terrorists."
Nigerians react as minister speaks on insecurity
Meanwhile, the minister's statement has drawn reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
RMD criticised the minister:
"Normal rhetoric without action. Who are these ones always standing behind someone being interviewed? They just want their face to show on TV. Africans need to grow up."
Icon Ayodeji said some religious leaders in the north could go against the minister:
"Now we are talking. I hope some deluded Arewa Muslims like Shariah Council, Gumi and some funny political clerics will not be against him for killing terrorists and insurrectionists because he is a Christian and from a minority ethnicity."
Source: Twitter
Damola welcomed the statement from the minister and prayed for the Nigerian military:
"God bless our army, I'm so happy to hear this. Please, if you see me selling or trading arms with bandits, shoot me on sight. Don't take me to court. We can't be having second thoughts when facing evil. Just do it."
Onowu urged the military to back the claim up with action:
"This would be a very reasonable stance if the military actions were reliable and frequent, you cannot place operations months apart, but expect the victims not to try and pick themselves up and adjust to their new realities, but stay hungry in IDP camps."
Oluwatosin challenged the minister that the word should be backed with action:
"Strong talk, Oga Minister, but we don hear this same “friend of thief na thief” plenty times before. Abeg make this one different, no more eye service. Deal with the bandits AND their sponsors, sharp, sharp. Nigerians are tired of talk, we want results."
Watch the minister's video on X below:
Soldiers and police died in an ambush
Legit.ng earlier reported that nine Nigerian soldiers, policemen and two civilians were killed in a fresh ambush by suspected bandits in Kebbi state.
According to eyewitnesses, the attack happened in the Giro Masa community in the Shanga LGA on Tuesday, March 24.
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi state confirmed the ambush and mourned the demise of the officers and civilians in the attack.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
