Let’s Begin To Address Bandits As Terrorists

Journalists have been asked to address bandits, who are holding the country to ransom, with their appropriate identity as ‘terrorists’.

The Lawmaker Representing Jada/Ganye/Mayobelwa/Tounga of Adamawa Federal Constituency, Abdulrazaq Saad Namdas said this at the sideline of a ‘Capacity-Building Workshop on Conflict Reporting for Journalists’, in Abuja.

The workshop was organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German-based non-government organisation; and Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).

Namdas, Chairman, House Committee on Army, during the workshop aired his views on the recent shooting down of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet by bandits, along the axis of Zamfara Forest.

He said: “Some people who are being called bandits may not necessarily be bandits, they are ‘terrorists’ because they have moved one step forward, the kind of weapons they used in dealing with people is no longer a banditry, not even armed robbery, they are attempting to bring down jets and it means that there is a serious matter”

He stressed the need for the media to address these murderous bandits with their befitting name is very crucial and that they should also help security forces within their capacity in fixing these lingering security challenges bedeviling the country over the years.

Mr. Saad further stated that the military forces are overstretched and being faced with a shortage of personnel as there are several military operations undergoing in 34 different states of Nigeria currently aimed at tackling myriads form of insecurity problems.

He however stated that the Nigerian Army was made to take charge of operations who supposed to be undertaken by the police and other paramilitary agencies, thus adding to their existing load of woes. Additionally, the lack of sophisticated weapons has also been identified by the lawmaker as another problem confronting the army operations in Nigeria.

Nevertheless, he assured that the house is doing everything thing possible to see that the Nigerian Army situation is improved. And with the current synergy existing among the various Service Chiefs which was lacking before, it is only a matter of time before all these challenges are being pushed to their final graveyards as assured by the legislator.