Bashir Magashi, Minister of Defence, has said he does not support the idea of killing bandits.
Magashi was quoted as saying in aTwitterpost on Thursday by Lauretta Onochie, aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on social media.
According to Onochie, the defence minister stated that bandits are innocent until proven guilty.
He, however, said armed bandits will be eliminated.
“I don’t share d idea of killing bandits. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty But if we see a bandit, armed with dangerous weapons, his surroundings will be cleared along with him We cannot just watch them kill us without responding,” he was quoted as saying.
Mahashi’s position opposes the recent resolution of the 36 state governors, who unanimously agreed that all bandits in the forests should be eliminated.
The minister had in February told Nigerians not to “be cowards” but stand up to armed bandits.
He also recently told troops fighting insurgency to be courageous, saying they would not die by bullet if it is not their time.
