The federal government has insisted that the Nigerian military did not pay to save the life of President Muhammadu Buhari.
On Monday, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed dared critics to name bandits allegedly paid not to shoot down an aircraft carrying Buhari.
Speaking to TV Continental, he condemned the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report which alleged that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) delivered N20million to criminals.
The money was “in exchange” for an anti-aircraft gun stolen by the bandits after a battle with troops in Rugu Forest, Katsina State.
The weapon reportedly posed a threat to the President who was flying “to his hometown about 80 miles away”.
The minister pointed out that the NAF immediately debunked the claim because it emanated from ignorance.
“Between Zamfara, Katsina, parts of Kaduna and Niger states, there are about 150 bandit camps. Who then was the money given to?
“It does not make any sense and it is because they do not understand how bandits operate that is why they can peddle that kind of fake news”, Mohammed said.