Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has debunked widespread suggestions that the administration of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is overwhelmed by the security challenges in the country.

Addressing Nigerian during a press briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, Mohammed acknowledged that the country faces security challenges ranging from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict.

The minister went further that the country’s security operatives have the wherewithal to confront the challenges, adding that they would see changes in the coming days.

IN response to condemnations from many Nigerians over the governments handling of kidnapping cases that are currently on the high, Mohammed noted that the military knows the locations of kidnappers but it’s usually careful to avoid collateral damage.

He said, “It is no longer news that our dear nation is facing security challenges. However, I have read comments saying the Federal Government is overwhelmed and doesn’t have a clue as to how to tackle the challenges. Some have even gone as far as suggesting a truncation of the democratic order, a clearly treasonable stance.

“Well, I am here today to assure all Nigerians that while the government acknowledges the security challenges we face at this time, from terrorism to kidnapping, banditry and farmer-herder conflict, it is definitely not overwhelmed and indeed it has the wherewithal, as you will see in the days ahead, to confront the challenges headlong and restore law and order, peace and security.

“One of the most difficult things to do, for a democratically-elected government, is to use the instruments of coercion against its own people. For example, while the nation’s military have superior firepower over the rag tag band of Boko Haram and ISWA, the terrorists most often than not operate among the populace, either in our villages or towns, hence the military, in tackling them, is usually careful to avoid collateral damage.

“The same applies to the kidnappers who abduct our school children. Usually, the location of the kidnappers is not unknown to security forces, but they still have to exercise caution in order not to hurt the same children they are trying to rescue. Despite these inhibitions, the security forces have the wherewithal to decisively tackle the challenges.”