By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
LAGOS- THERE are strong indications that the federal government has put finishing touches to plans to out rightly ban Okada operation as means of transport nationwide. Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, made the remark Thursday while briefing State House reporters following a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to him, an investigation revealed that Okada were used for mining activities across the country, and the ban could cut off terrorist and bandit funding sources. The Minister, who was flanked by his counterparts in the Interior and Police Affairs, Rauf Aregbesola and Mohammed Dingyadi, said the meeting focused on the logistics used by terrorists to halt their activities.
He stated that the government needed to act because terrorists had shifted from traditional methods of funding to mining and ransom taking. Malami stated that the bandits use motorcycles for movement, while mining provides them with money to fund their arms supply.
Read Also >>
When asked if the government would consider the effects of the motorcycle and mining bans on ordinary Nigerians and the economy, the minister stated that the federal government would prioritize national and public interests over individual interests
Aregbesola stated during his speech that substantial efforts were made to gather intelligence prior to the recent attack on Kuje Correctional Center, but he regretted the lack of will to act on it. The minister, who stated that a preliminary report of investigation on the attack had been submitted to the President, assured that detailed report would be made available at the end of the probe adding that those found to have abandoned their responsibilities would be punished.
COPYWRIGHT CRIMEWORLD:Â All rights reserved. It is an offense to either broadcast, reproduce, rewrite, publish and redistribute this material partly or wholly without the express permission from Frontpage CrimeWorld Publishers Nigeria Limited, Publishers of CrimeWorld Magazines and weekly newspapers