The Niger State government has urged the military to deploy more troops to communities under attack by bandits, following a series of deadly assaults on local governments.
Acting Governor Yakubu Garba made the plea after a three-day prayer for 13 farmers killed in Shiroro.
“The withdrawal of troops from Allawa and other communities has weakened our efforts to end insecurity. I appeal to our military to return to these areas and provide full security cover to our people, mostly farmers,” Garba said.
Father of one of the victims, Isah Allawa, recounted the horror: “The bandits killed eight people by shooting them, while five others drowned fleeing the scene. They separated people from Allawa and Kagara, then started killing those from Allawa.”
Widow Murjanatu Musa lamented, “I lost my son, who was married with a daughter… I also lost my husband to a 2023 bandit attack.”
APC chieftain Jonathan Vatsa alleged, “The killings are ethnic cleansing disguised as bandit attacks… It’s an economic war to take over lands rich in minerals and agriculture.”
Vatsa warned, “The growing insecurity could derail President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural program and food security agenda… We must secure the lands and farmers to address the high cost of foodstuffs.”