Insecurity: Bandits are more willing to listen to Religious Leaders than government – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has disclosed that bandits across the country are more willing to listen to respected religious leaders as mediators in than the government.

Lai Mohammed made this assertion while reacting to the recent meeting Muslim cleric, Sheik Gumi, had with some bandits in Zamfara state.

At the meeting, the cleric and the bandits who were armed with weapons, had a discussion where they aired their grievances at the Nigerian government.

While reacting the Minister said there was nothing unusual about employing the services of respected religious leaders in the country to act as a bridge(mediators) between the government and bandits.

The statement reads:

“Like I explained that when we want to resolve issues like this we use a lot of back-channels. Again it is not unusual to use a respected cleric to have the confidence of outlaws or bandits. As a matter of fact, they are probably ready to listen to him more than they are ready to listen to the government.

They are probably ready to believe in them, so it is not unusual for him to act as a bridge between government and outlaws to find solutions”he said.