Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has vowed never to bow to bandits, declaring that his administration will neither pay ransom nor negotiate with criminals.
Instead, he called on residents to arm themselves with courage and defend their communities from attacks.
During a visit to Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas, where several villages were recently invaded by bandits in Kontagora, Bago made his position clear.
“The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business.
“I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people. The situation has reached a state of war that requires collective resistance.
“We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up. The constitution gives us the right to defend our lives and property, and we will do just that. There is no going back.”
Describing the repeated attacks and displacement of residents as “embarrassing and unacceptable,” Bago announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force (JTF) to strengthen local security and push back against criminal elements.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, the governor also declared a total ban on mining activities across Zone C, which covers eight local government areas: Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara.
“Illegal mining has become one of the major drivers of insecurity in the area, with miners often accessing forest zones unharmed while residents suffer repeated attacks.
It is suspicious that miners can enter the forests freely, yet the bandits don’t touch them. I have now ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to arrest anyone caught engaging in mining activities.”
Governor Bago assured victims of recent attacks that the government would provide relief and rehabilitation, including compensation for families of those killed, medical care for the wounded, and support for those who lost their livelihoods.
