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- Say terrorists have occupied their lands
- Call for Federal Government intervention
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From John Adams, Minna
Worried by relentless bloody attacks by bandits and other terrorist groups, communities in Borgu Kingdom have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently deploy security agents to the troubled communities in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State.
They specifically urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, establish a military base in the area to curtail the onslaught by the gunmen, saying the current security situation is not only worrisome but scary.
Addressing a press conference at the weekend, the community leaders said the entire Borgu Kingdom, comprising Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas, is under siege from bandits and other hoodlums that have made life miserable for the people. They noted that in the last three months alone, the situation has deteriorated sharply.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev Dr Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, flanked by other community leaders of Borgu Emirate, pointed out that the plight of the affected communities is better imagined than experienced as the people now live like refugees in their own communities.
Rev Yohanna described the security situation as dire, highlighting repeated attacks on residents, schools, and police facilities, adding that many children can no longer attend school, farmers have been forced to abandon their farms, and markets are closed.
According to him, “The people of Agwara deserve to live without fear, our children deserve a secured future, our people need to farm their lands and sleep peacefully in their homes, but all these are no more,” he said.
Although the criminals have been operating and terrorising the area for a long time, he said the situation has escalated in the last three months, beginning with the abduction of the students of Papiri Missionary School in Agwara in November last year, stressing that “ever since then, the entire Borgu Kingdom has lost its peace”.
The cleric maintained that, “Our people are helpless and crying for help. We want the government to beef up security in Agwara, especially in Papiri town, where St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools serve over 50 communities.”
He suggested that there should be a military base in the area in order to reduce the incessant attacks, as the situation has defied every solution.
“We are appealing for a military base that will ensure security presence at all times. These terrorists have occupied our land, they have taken over the forests.
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He warned that “the time to act is now, before we lose more lives and before our communities lose faith entirely in the government’s capacity to protect them,” Bishop Yohanna submitted.
Also speaking, another leader in the kingdom, Dr Murtala Haliru Dantoro, who is the younger brother to the current Emir of Borgu Emirate, Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, described the attacks as a humanitarian emergency that threatens lives and livelihoods across the kingdom.
He added that “Borgu Kingdom is bleeding. Families are being torn apart, livelihoods destroyed. Our farmers, once the breadbasket of the North-West, could soon depend on government relief if the current situation is not urgently addressed.
“We are calling on the President, the ‘Jagaban Borgu’, to approve emergency funding to enable security operatives tackle the challenges in Borgu Kingdom without delay.
“The title of Jagaban carries great honour, but it also carries great responsibility. Your people, the people of Borgu Kingdom, are looking up to you. We trust that you will act with the urgency this crisis demands,” he stated.
The Borgu prince noted further that local communities are ready to cooperate with security agencies, including vigilante groups and traditional institutions, but require immediate Federal support.
“Our communities are organised. Vigilantes are ready. Traditional institutions have been engaged. We will partner fully with any intervention that the government authorises,” he said.
Also, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim, leader of the Muslim community in Borgu Emirate, disclosed that so far a total of over 50 persons abducted by terrorists in Agwara and Kansuwa Dani attacks, comprising mostly children from Borgu, are still in captivity.
“For over five weeks, these victims are still not yet rescued and the attacks affected both Christians and Muslims, who are mostly children. We want government to help us rescue them,” he stated.
The leaders specifically appealed to the President, Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser, Inspector-General of Police, and Conservator-General of National Parks to intervene in the security crisis facing the emirate, emphasising that swift action is critical to save lives and restore peace.
They called for the declaration of Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas as security priority zones, immediate deployment of military units, reconstruction of Agwara Police Station, and enhanced surveillance of nearby forest reserves and highways.
