Amid atrocities being committed by bandits, especially in the North-West, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says they are like area boys (touts) in the South and other parts of the country.
This came as the minister likens the imposition of levies on residents of some North-West states by bandits to the activities of touts.
According to Mohammed, it was wrong to claim that bandits have taken over some communities in the North-West because the collect levies from residents.
The minister spoke on Thursday while reacting to an article by The Economist magazine titled, ‘Insurgency, Secessionism and banditry threaten Nigeria.’
Mohammed faulted the London-based magazine for claiming that terrorists had carved caliphates for themselves in the North-East.
While responding to the question on North-West, where bandits now impose levies on communities, Mohammed argued that imposing levies does not mean criminals are in charge.
He added that the bandits’ activities take place in many parts of the country, including in the South where touts commonly referred to as ‘area boys’, impose levies.
He said, “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.”
The minister, however, implored Nigerian media not to glorify reports from foreign media.