Over 3,000 Displaced As Boko Haram Takes Over Villages In Niger State
Over 3,000 people have been displaced following an attack on the Kauri Community of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The state governor, Governor Abubakar Bello confirmed the presence of the insurgents in the community on Monday.
According to the governor, the terrorists and bandits displaced the residents at IBB Central Primary School Minna, in the company of his Deputy, Ahmed Kesto and Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Faruq.
He described the situation as critical and terrible, noting that is high time for well-coordinated actions in order to address the problem.
“We have over 3,000 people here from communities that have been displaced by bandits and Boko Haram elements around Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas,” he said.
“However, some of them have started going to their various homes. There are some other communities that we think are safe but a vast majority of them will have to remain here because their villages and towns have been taken over by the Boko Haram elements.
“Their wives have been forcefully attached to Boko Haram elements. In fact, I just heard they have already placed their flag in Kauri which means they have taken over the teriitory.”
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Hoists Flag In Some Parts Of Yobe Community
The governor explained that he has been engaging the Federal Government to ensure that security is beefed and peace restores to his state.
While lamenting the worsening security in the state and country, he called for a coordinated military action to flush out the terrorists and bandits in Niger State.
This comes a day after the terrorists hoisted their flag in some parts of the Geidam community, in Yobe state.
Also on April 24, they attacked Geidam local government area of the state, the hometown of the acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba.
Nigeria has been experiencing a series of security threats ranging from terrorism, banditry, militancy, cultism among others in several parts of the country.
The country has been battling terrorism for more than a decade which has killed 36,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands in the northeast.
The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) split from the jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016 and has since become a dominant threat in Nigeria, attacking troops and bases while killing and kidnapping passengers at bogus checkpoints.
On March 1, jihadist fighters burnt down a United Nations humanitarian compound in the town of Dikwa after dislodging troops, killing six civilians.
Nigeria’s jihadist violence has spread to neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.
