Insecurity: Stop rewarding bandits with Money and Vehicles, Buhari warns state governors

…says government will not succumb to blackmail

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, warned state governors on the risk of rewarding armed bandits.

President Buhari in a tweet, while charging state governors to be proactive in improving security in and around schools, said that the policies of rewarding bandits can be disastrous and must be reviewed.

“State Governments must review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles. Such a policy has the potential to backfire with disastrous consequences. States and Local Governments must also play their part by being proactive in improving security in & around schools,” the President through his media aide, Garba Shehu.

“Let bandits, kidnappers and terrorists not entertain any illusions that they are more powerful than the government. They shouldn’t mistake our restraint for the humanitarian goals of protecting innocent lives as a weakness or a sign of fear or irresolution,” he added.

The Governor of Katsina – President Buhari’s home state – Bello Masari and Zamfara State Governor are known to have negotiated peace deals with the bandits.