President Mohammed Buhari in a statement on Sunday, charged guardians and parents not to encourage their wards to participate in the nationwide looting and destruction of properties ongoing.
The president said, “Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted goods, in the same way, wives must ask their husbands to return looted items brought home.”
In the statement, Buhari expressed his full support in serving justice to the dead peaceful protesters, security personnel who were killed and business owners whose assets were looted.
He also said he would not go into any debate over the Lekki shooting till all evidences were provided.
“A government that has launched a massive crackdown on corruption, brought in strong laws for a decisive battle against corruption, pursues loot recovery at home and abroad, and taken strong decisions against those who thought they were above the law, will not fold its arms when an otherwise legitimate and peaceful protest is turning into free-for-all vandalism and looting.
“While the administration has, for its part, blocked so many means of looting public money in a war against corruption, it is the expectation that all civil authorities, community, and religious leaders in the country must rise against the organized looting and plunder we are witnessing in parts of the country,” he said.
“Families must turn back children who bring home unaccounted goods, in the same way, wives must ask their husbands to return looted items brought home.
“What is more, is that criminal actions as we have so far witnessed can weaken and erode the confidence of our people and that of foreign businesses in investing in the economy. Looting and vandalism will hurt trade and investment growth in our country, both large and small industries, as well as our hardworking people in the informal sectors of the economy.
“These incidents do not reflect well on any society. They are wrong and condemnable and should not be supported by reasonable members of society,” the statement partly read.”
Buhari further advised that Nigerians cohabit peacefully and “not to turn against one another in hate.”
