Lawan: Banditry has become an industry

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says banditry in the country has become an industry.

Speaking on the floor of the senate after the new service chiefs were confirmed on Tuesday, Lawan said some people are benefiting from kidnapping and that they need to be brought to justice.

There has been a rise in the activities of bandits across the country — with the abduction of students from schools in the north a rising trend.

The senate president said there must be efforts to rescue the country from these criminals.

“A situation whereby a group of people will go to a school and take over 300 students away on motorcycles is not accepted,” he said.

“Kidnapping without a trace — it is not acceptable. Something has to give because, apparently, this is becoming an industry. Some people are benefiting from this and we have to unravel who these people are, and fight bandits and insurgents until we rescue our country.”

Lawan asked the new service chiefs to work together.

“Let me also advise the service chiefs that there must be interagency cooperation. The army, the air force; they are supposed to have complementary roles,” he said.

“We promise them and indeed Nigerians that we will support them in whatever way the parliament can come to their support.”