The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said bandits killing and kidnapping innocent persons are ‘simple criminals’.
He however, compared the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Boko Haram insurgents, saying the two groups are driven by an ideology.
Mohammed said the bandits are incomparable with IPOB and Boko Haram because they cannot be attached to a religious or an ideological goal.
The minister spoke on TVC’s ‘This Morning’ on Monday.
He said, “The difference between IPOB, Boko Haram on one side and bandits is that, while IPOB and Boko Haram are driven by ideology, a belief that they don’t want to be part of Nigeria, bandits have no flags.
“Bandits have no flag. Bandits are simple criminals. There’s no difference between bandits and other criminals other than their ferocity.
“Bandits have never said they don’t believe in Nigeria, they are just pure criminals.”
Recall that Mohammed’s statement is coming less than ten days after he denied that there is preferential treatment between groups advocating separation from the country and bandits, especially in the North West Zone.