Ramadan Fasting Responsible For Recent Reduction In Banditry – Ex-DSS Director

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Mike Ejiofor on Monday said the recent reduction in cases of banditry across the country could be attributed to the Ramadan fasting currently being observed across the country.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

The Sultan of Sokoto last week had signalled the commencement of the Ramadan fast, after a moon sighting.

“It (banditry) is not coming down,” Mr Ejiofor said. “There’s a lull, especially in the North-West; you know we are observing fasting now. So that’s responsible for what we think is a lull in the issues of banditry, especially in the North-West where it is very prevalent.

“Some of them too pray. They are religious people. They don’t come from the sky. At times, they also want to pray to God. Even an armed robber will pray to God to save him from his operations.”

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Mike Ejiofor on Monday said the recent reduction in cases of banditry across the country could be attributed to the Ramadan fasting currently being observed across the country.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

The Sultan of Sokoto last week had signalled the commencement of the Ramadan fast, after a moon sighting.

“It (banditry) is not coming down,” Mr Ejiofor said. “There’s a lull, especially in the North-West; you know we are observing fasting now. So that’s responsible for what we think is a lull in the issues of banditry, especially in the North-West where it is very prevalent.

“Some of them too pray. They are religious people. They don’t come from the sky. At times, they also want to pray to God. Even an armed robber will pray to God to save him from his operations.”

Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.