Nigeria’s minister of defence who advised citizens to stand up to armed bandits and stop being cowards is one of the most protected government officials in the country, Dateline Nigeria can reveal.
Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) on Wednesday told Nigerians that he did not know why people would run away from “minor things like that”, referring to armed bandits who have been terrorizing northern parts of the country.
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The minister was speaking following the abduction of secondary school children from their dormitories in a secondary school in Niger in North-West Nigeria, one of the states bedeviled by bandit activities.
Officials said 27 students, 12 staff and other family members were taken during the raid at the Government Science College Kagara. One student was killed in the attack.
Witnesses said the gunmen, wearing military uniforms, stormed the school around 2am after overpowering guards.
“Is it the responsibility of the military alone? It is the responsibility of everybody to keep alert and find safety when necessary,” Magashi said in reaction to the abduction.
“But we shouldn’t be cowards. At times the bandits will come with only about three rounds of ammunition. When they fire shots, everybody runs.
“In our younger days, we stand (sic) any aggression coming to us. I don’t know why people are running away from minor, minor, minor things like that. They should stand. Let this people know that even the villagers have the competence and capability to defend themselves.”
The comment drew many reactions from Nigerians who accused the minister of underrating the destructive capability of the bandits who have become more daring over the last couple of years.
Against the backdrop of the minister’s advice to Nigerians to confront armed bandits, Dateline Nigeria carried out a check which showed that Magashi is among a few crop of top government officials who are protected by over 20 soldiers.
Soldiers are deployed on 24-hour guard duties at his official residence in Abuja as well as his private house in Kano State.
Residents in Kano said whenever he is in town, the number of soldiers at his private residence is increased and military trucks are also stationed to give him security.
Sources close to him also disclosed that military vans escort his convoy wherever he goes.
They said his security details are drawn from all the branches of the armed forces, the army, navy and the air force.
The minister also enjoys the services of an ADC in the rank of a major.
Although the minister did not elaborate on the “aggression” he said they stood up to in their younger days, Dateline Nigeria can authoritatively report that attacks by AK-47 wielding gunmen is a recent event that is not more than 10 years in Nigeria.
Kagara was the second case of abduction of school children since Magashi has been the defence minister. In December, gunmen took away over 300 students from Government Science Secondary School Kankara in Katsina State.
