Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State says the government will recruit 10,000 volunteers from Zone C Senatorial District to defend their communities from persistent attacks by bandits.
“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.”
The governor announced a total ban on mining activities across eight local government areas of Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu and Agwara.
He said: “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.”
He pledged to provide support and compensation to families of those killed, medical treatment for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their sources of livelihood.
