Kano State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has come out to say that the arrest of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu should serve as a warning to separatists challenging Nigeria’s authority.

He recently revealed this while speaking to BBC Pidgin, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, no one should compare Boko Haram and Bandits to IPOB because bandits and terrorists aren’t calling for the break-up of Nigeria, and they are only carrying out their activities as a form of business.

He added that all groups are way different than most people think, and unlike IPOB led by Kanu, bandits have no centralised leadership.

His words, “I was very happy (when Nnamdi Kanu was arrested) because, first he jumped bail, jeopardising his sureties.”

“Second, a person that challenges the sovereignty and the authority of a state and incites violence; he refers to his own country as a zoo.”

“This should be a message to all these separatists challenging the authority of the Nigerian state to be very careful.”

“No! No! No! No! People are comparing apples to oranges.”

“Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a proscribed organisation. He is identifiable, in constant communication and everyone knows where he is.”

“Let’s take Boko Haram for instance. Shekau was in hiding and for the past 10 years and the military had been waging a war to get him.”

“It is not like Shekau was in Saudi Arabia, sitting in one place, tweeting about the break-up of Nigeria or asking Boko Haram to go and kill Helen and Nasir el-Rufai.”

“Nnamdi Kanu is in one place while Shekau is waging guerrilla warfare. The insurgency is still going on and the Federal Government is not giving up.”

“Regarding bandits, they are not centralised under one leadership. Who is the head of the bandits? Who is the equivalent of Nnandi Kanu with banditry?”

“Bandits are just collections of independent criminals. It is a business for them. It is not a case of Nigeria must break up.”

“I want to challenge anyone to tell me the central leader of bandits in the same position as Kanu.”