Insecurity: Government Not Overwhelmed—Lai Mohammed

**Begs Media to Tone Down Reportage

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has disclosed that the federal government is not overwhelmed by the rising insecurity in the country.

Mr Mohammed, while addressing journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, also appealed to the media to assist the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari by “dousing the pervasive tension and not allow their platforms to be used uncompromising separatists and die-hard pessimists about the survival of our nation can only overheat the polity and aggravate the security challenges.”

He stressed that “this is not a call for censorship. It is a call for responsibility, in the national interest” as the media “must also realize that it can only carry out this responsibility in an atmosphere of peace and security.”

The Minister assured Nigerians that “in the days ahead,” the federal government will “confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security.”

He said “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.”

Mr Mohammed explained that the security operatives have not been able to overcome the crisis because “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 has superior firepower over the ragtag band of Boko Haram and ISWA, 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,” he added.

He lamented the “growing dangerous trend” of “launching deadly attacks against the nation’s security personnel.”

“Soldiers, as well as the police, customs and other security agents, have been killed and maimed in some parts of the country in this growing trend of targeting security forces.

“I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the nation.

“It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force. When those whose responsibility it is to protect us are themselves being subjected to mindless attacks, it can only be for one reason only: to instil fear and evoke a sense of pervasive insecurity among the people, whether known or unknown gunmen, those engaged in this dastardly act will pay dearly for their actions,” he stated.