. FG accuses operators of aiding illegal mining, funding of terrorists, bandits
Federal Government says it is considering a ban on the use of motorcycles, popularly known as okada nationwide.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Malami, investigation has revealed that okada are largely used for mining activities across the country, adding that a ban will cut off terrorists’ and bandits’ sources of funds.
Flanked by his Interior and Police Affairs counterparts, Rauf Aregbesola and Mohammed Dingyadi, the AGF said the meeting focused on the logistics used by the terrorists and measures to stop their activities.
Malami said government needed to act now because terrorists had advanced from the conventional ways of funding their activities to mining and ransom taking.
He said the motorcycles were used by the bandits for easy movement, while mining provides them the money to fund their arms supply.
Asked whether the government considered the implications of the ban of motorcycles and mining activities on ordinary Nigerians and the economy, the minister said the Federal Government would place national and public interests above individual interests.
Aregbesola in his own contribution said although substantial efforts went into gathering of intelligence before the recent attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, there was the absence of will to act on it.
The interior minister, who disclosed 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.
Aregbesola vowed that those found to have abandoned their responsibilities would be punished appropriately.