Umaru Bago, the governor of Niger State, has urged residents to protect themselves from persistent bandit attacks as a result of growing concerns about insecurity in various parts of the nation.
He resolutely argued that no matter what the circumstances, his administration would never negotiate with or pay a ransom to criminals.
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Bago made the statement while traveling to the local government areas of Rijau and Magama, where several communities have recently been attacked by bandits operating from the Kontagora axis.
The governor claimed that the state had reached a critical stage, urging people to take collective action, warning that paying ransom would only enrage criminals and encourage kidnapping.
“I won’t bargain with bandits,” I said. I won’t demand a ransom.
He said, “They will open a shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people until we start paying.”
“The situation has reached a war zone that calls for collective coercion.” We have enemies in our area, but we won’t give up.
The governor continued, “We will defend our lives and property as the constitution allows.”
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Bago announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 people for the state’s joint task force to improve community security and restore peace, calling the frequent attacks and residents’ displacement as “embarrassing and unacceptable.”
The governor also announced a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso.
Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara are the affected local government areas.
According to Bago, illegal mining had become a major contributor to the zone’s insecurity, noting that many miners had unrestricted access to forests that were viewed as unsafe for residents.
The bandits don’t touch the forests, despite suspicion that miners can freely enter them. He stated that I have mandated that anyone caught engaging in mining activities be detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
