”It is not indicative that bandits have taken over”- Lai Mohammed dismisses reports claiming bandits now impose levies in some Northern communities

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the fact that bandits are imposing levies on communities does not mean they have taken control of those territories in Nigeria.

The Minister said this while speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, October 28.

While responding to a question from a journalist about the activities of bandits in the North-West where it has been reported that they now impose levies on communities, Mohammed argued that imposing levies does not mean criminals are in charge, adding that it takes place in many parts of the country, including in the South where touts commonly referred to as ‘area boys’, impose levies.

“Do you know how many places in this country where area boys collect taxes? And there is no terrorism or banditry there. I don’t want to mention names. In many of our cities, they carve out their own territory. So, it is not indicative of the bandits have taken over.

No. I know many areas in Nigeria both in the South and the North where these kinds of things happen. So, it is not the same thing.”