Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello said yesterday that Boko Haram had already infiltrated the state and had not only hoisted their flags in captured villages, including Kaure village in the state’s Shiroro Local Government, but had also forcibly assigned displaced women to themselves as wives.
The governor claimed that while Sambisa is several kilometers from Abuja, Kaure is only two kilometers away, and that no one is safe anymore, not even Abuja residents.
According to the governor, the terrorist group’s flag is now visible in Kaure village, Shiroro LGA. Governor Bello stated during his visit to the Internally Displaced People, IDPs Camp at the IBB Primary School near the Emir of Minna’s palace that due to the influx of displaced people from villages, the IBB Primary School was hurriedly converted into an IDP camp by the government to cater for the affected people.
Over 5,000 people were displaced in the camp, including villagers who had been evicted from their ancestral homes in Shiroro and Munya local government areas by bandits who raided the towns over the weekend.
“I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements here in Niger State,” the governor said. I can confirm that they have hoisted their flags in Kaure, Shiroro Local Government Area. The wives of the villagers have been kidnapped and forcibly attached to Boko Haram members. I just heard that they’ve planted flags at Kaure, indicating that they’ve taken over the territory.
“This is what I have been engaging the Federal government on but unfortunately, it has now got to this level. If care is not taken even Abuja will not be safe. We have been saying this for long but all our efforts have been in vain. But with the latest development, I hope the time has come for a more coordinated military activity to take place.
“With the development, the Boko Haram elements are trying to use this area as their home just as they did in Sambisa. Sambisa is several kilometers from Abuja but Kaure is just two hours drive to Abuja so nobody is safe anymore not even those in Abuja.”
He called on the Federal government to act now adding that the fight was beyond Niger State but that of the entire country. “I have made several efforts to bring the several attacks by bandits in the state to no avail through to the Federal Government but I am not waiting for anyone anymore as I am going to take more action.” Statistics revealed that there are presently 447 women, 119 pregnant women and 1447 children at the Minna Camp.
