Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has ruled out any form of negotiation or ransom payment to bandits, insisting that his administration will not bow to criminal elements.
The governor urged residents of communities under frequent bandit attacks to rise and defend themselves against the marauders.
Bago spoke during a condolence visit to Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas, where several communities were recently attacked. He stressed that tackling insecurity requires collective action and community resistance.
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“I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and keep kidnapping people,” he said.
He added: “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.”
Bago described it as embarrassing and unacceptable that communities could be invaded and residents turned into Internally Displaced Persons. He announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force (JTF) to help restore security, with recruitment beginning immediately.
Bago also declared total ban on mining across the entire Zone C of the State, which covers eight local government areas, including Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu and Agwara.
