How Traditional Rulers Conspired With Bandits – Defence Minister

Mansur Dan-Ali, Nigeria’s minister of defence, has accused some higly placed traditional ruler of conspiring with bandits.

He said that they (traditional rulers) provide them (bandits) with information to perpetuate their “nefarious actions or to compromise military operations”

This was conveyed in a statement issued by Tukur Gusau, his spokesman.

“The Nigerian Air Force has also intensified air strikes against the bandits in Zamfara. So far, the combined efforts have yielded to lot of successes leading to the killing of many bandits, rescue of many innocent persons including the renowned Islamic scholar Sheik Ahmad Suleiman,” the statement reads.

“The government is also addressing the remote and immediate causes that gave room to high spate of armed banditry in the states.

“Recently the government acted on the advice of the Ministry of Defence to suspend all mining activities in Zamfara State and environs following intelligence report that suggest close collaboration between the activities of the bandits and illegal miners.

“It is instructive to mention here that insurgency and terrorism are global phenomena that cannot be addressed through military actions only. The whole society has to rise in unison to support the government’s efforts to address the problem.

“However, in spite of the concerted efforts of the Armed Forces and other security some unpatriotic persons including highly placed traditional rulers in the areas were identified as helping the bandits with intelligence to perpetuate their nefarious actions or to compromise military operations.”