Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has advised unemployed Nigerian youths to go into agriculture instead of taking to crime.
He gave the advice during an appearance on Channels Television‘s “Politics Today” programme on Friday.
According to the 2023 presidential hopeful, joblessness was no excuse to go into banditry, kidnapping, internet fraud or any other criminal activity.
Bello disagreed with the notion that joblessness was fuelling banditry.
The Kogi governor also faulted calls for bandits to be granted amnesty like Niger Delta militants.
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Bello said, “First and foremost, I’ll differentiate categorically the difference between agitation of the South-South and the banditry.
“I don’t subscribe to the fact that because you’re idle or you’ve no job and you take to crimes. There are a lot of works to be done. Please, if you can’t do anything, go and farm. There are several menial jobs out there that can engage. Crime isn’t an excuse for joblessness.
“Having differentiated between the South-South that’s given amnesty and the banditry, I’ll go this way that, majority of those that are being peddled as criminals or bandits today are Fulani herdsmen. These people are known for rearing cattles and keeping livestock; that’s the business.”