TheCable

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has called on Nigerians not to heat up the polity by ascribing ethnic or religious meanings to security issues.

There has been tension in Ondo and Oyo after quit notices were issued to herders in both states.

Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor, had alleged that the forests in his state have become home to kidnappers, hence the eviction notice.

Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Mohammed warned that the matter should not be politicised.

“We have challenges in the south-west but I can assure you it is being taken very good care of — both military and political leaders are on top of the matter,” he said.

“I think my response to it is that we should please lower the temperature. We should stop politicising security matters. We should stop reading ethnicity or religion to purely security issues.

“Efforts are being made to contain these issues and other issues.”

The minister said in January alone, the armed forces have neutralised 158 “criminal elements”, adding that the federal government is aware of its responsibility to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

According to him, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would not relent in adapting to “changing threats to our national security and civic wellbeing”.

“​Since the beginning of this year, which is barely three weeks old, the armed forces of Nigeria have neutralised 158 criminal elements across the country,” Mohammed said.

“This is in addition to scores of other terrorists and armed bandits killed during air strikes. Some 52 criminal elements were arrested, with scores of arms, ammunition and equipment recovered. Troops have also rescued a total of 17 kidnapped victims across the country.

“In addition, a total of 684,856 barrels of stolen crude oil, 1,724,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 500,000 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) have been recovered.”