- where several communities were recently attacked by armed group
- We are at a point where everyone must rise to defend themselves
- Bago further pledged government support for victims of recent attacks
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has reaffirmed his administration’s stance against negotiating with bandits or paying ransom for kidnapped victims, urging residents to take responsibility for defending their communities from attacks.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor made this declaration during a visit to Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas, where several communities were recently attacked by armed groups in Kontagora.
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Bago stated that the era of ransom payments must end, warning that paying kidnappers only fuels criminal activity. “I will not negotiate with bandits or pay ransom.
Once we start paying, kidnapping becomes a business. We are at a point where everyone must rise to defend themselves,” he said.
He described the persistent bandit attacks as both “embarrassing and unacceptable” and announced that his government would recruit and train 10,000 personnel into the state’s Joint Task Force (JTF) to strengthen security operations.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, Bago also declared an immediate ban on all mining activities across Zone C, which includes eight local government areas: Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara.
According to him, illegal mining has become a major driver of insecurity in the region, as miners freely access forests where bandits operate. He directed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrest anyone found engaging in mining.
Bago further pledged government support for victims of recent attacks, including compensation for bereaved families, medical aid for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their livelihoods
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