By Abba Gwale
The Senator representing Niger East, Mohammed Sani Musa, has said that Boko Haram insurgents are currently in control of about 42 communities in the state while at least 5,000 people have been displaced in the last three days.
While speaking on the killings in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Governments in Niger State at the Senate floor, Senator Musa complained that over 475 persons had been killed by bandits and terrorists in Niger East between January 2020 to date.
The Niger State Governor had, on Monday, said that the insurgents have hoisted their flags in some communities.
The Senator expressed concern that for almost seven years now, Niger East Senatorial District of Niger State have come under constant and sustained multiple deadly attacks by “heartless, venomous and hydra-headed” Boko Haram terrorists.
He further said the situation caused a total collapse of the local economies of the affected victims, total collapse of educational system in the affected areas, famine due to collapse of agricultural activities, displacement as a result of desertion of crisis prone areas, depopulation as a result of wanton deaths, among others.
He said, “They have kidnapped many men and their wives seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram members. Three military camps in Allawa, Bassa and Zagzaga in the two local government areas have been sacked and some security personnel killed by the insurgents in the last one month of renewed attacks.
“I can authoritatively confirm that the Boko Haram terrorist have mounted their flags in many of the villages they have captured such as Kaure, Alawa and Magami. Inhabitants of these war-torn parts of the State have been abandoned and left to their fate thereby compelling them to wallow in perpetual agony and abject misery.
“Furthermore at this moment, primary schools in Gwada, Kuta, Pandogari and Minna have hurriedly been turned to IDP camps following the sacking of nearly 5600 villagers from their ancestral homes in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas in the last few weeks by bandits who raided the towns and villages. What this means is that if they can launch attacks without hindrance in Niger East Senatorial District, then I don’t see how we can be safe in Abuja anymore.”
He however said, “If this menace is not drastically addressed, the attacks will continue and the danger is that it may escalate further to other communities. which are mostly farming communities and they are farmers, may desert their farms this season and this will negatively affect the food sufficiency and economic diversification policy of the Federal Government,” he added.
He stated that between March 2021 to date, same terrorists have killed more than 25 gallant soldiers, mobile policemen and other security personnel, while more than 16 civilians were killed, many others unaccounted for.
