Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago has admitted that terrorists and other criminal elements have taken over the Kainji National Park in Borgu Local Government Area of the State and have launched incessant attacks on communities within the Borgu Kingdom therefrom.
The Governor, however, blamed the rising security challenges, especially in Borgu Kingdom, to the influx of people into the Emirate without being profiled, a development he said has become a security concern to the entire State and the country at large.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, quoted the Governor as having made the statement when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, at his palace in New Bussa, the headquarters of Borgu Local Government, to sympathise with him and the entire people of the Emirate over the recent terrorist attacks across the Borgu kingdom.
The Governor also expressed concern over the activities of informants to the terrorists, who, according to him, constantly thwart security efforts in the area by leaking strategic security information to the terrorists, hence the escalation in terror attacks.
Declaring that it was time to flush out terrorists and other criminal elements from the area, Bago gave the communities within the Kainji National Park two months to relocate, explaining that “resettlement of the people has become necessary to avoid collateral damage, as the state government, in collaboration with the federal government, is determined to clear the forest, flush out criminals who are using Kainji National Park as their camp.”
Bago asked the Emirate Council to rise up to its responsibility and join forces with the security agencies and government at all levels to combat any form of insecurity in the area.
He, therefore, extended his heartfelt condolences to the Emir and the people of the Emirate, especially the families of the victims, over the recent attack which led to the killing of 42 in Kasuwan deji, and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed and comfort to their loved ones.
In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji. Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, pledged to work closely with relevant authorities to identify and prosecute informants in the Emirate, pointing out that the security of lives and property is paramount, hence, no stone will be left unturned in securing them.
He appreciated the Governor for the visit and reassured him of the Emirate’s continuous support for his policies and programmes geared towards improving the lives of the people.
Meanwhile, a few hours after the Governor’s visit, terrorists struck again and attacked Kabe village in the same Borgu Local Government Area, killing an 85-year old woman in the process.
According to a source close to the community, the terrorists who invaded the community in their numbers, riding on motorcycles, killed some people and catted some food items while kidnapping some people whose number was still sketchy as at a time of writing this report
