Insecurity: Niger state confirms presence of ISWAP in the State

Niger state government in North Central Nigeria has confirmed the presence of ISWAP terrorist group in some parts of the state.

The Secretary to the Niger State government, SSG, Alhaji Ibrahim Matane disclosed this during a press briefing on the update of security issues in the state on Tuesday in Minna the state capital.

Matane stated that the suspected ISWAP group are sited in Babanna area in Borgu Local government area of the state bordering Nigeria and Benin republic and some communities in other parts of the state.

The Niger state SSG further said information from the locals confirmed that the groups have been persuading communities on their radical ideologies.

“They want to establish a camp around Babanna area near the National parks service at Kainji in Borgu local Government area, they issued an audio messages claiming not to be bandits or kidnappers, but a religious based organization poised to establish a Caliphate responsible for dealing with crimes and other related issues”.

Other areas threatened by the invasion of the alleged ISWAP members according to the Niger State SSG includes, Kwaki, Kusaso, Kawure, Chikuba, Madaka, Farin Dutse, Kurebe, Falaliand Iburo in Shiroro area of the State.

“Their mode of operations seems to resemble that of Boko Haram and ISWAP. They always persuade communities mostly during Friday prayers sermons to either withdraw their children from western education system or not to entirely enrol them with the promises not to harm the communities as long as they cooperated with them” Matane said.

“There is a semblance of what clearly happens in the North eastern part of Nigeria with the Iswap approach.

“The bandits in some communities are also taxing farmers on their farm produce or accessing the farms, and refusal will lead to setting farms on fire”.

The SSG who however said the suspected ISWAP operatives have not really created a permanent camp in the state said that the state government with the assistance of the security agencies are making all efforts to curtail the activities of the suspected ISWAP operatives and other crime activities across the state.

Insecurity: Niger State bans sale of commercial motorcycles

The SSG who further reiterated the ban on the sales of commercial motorcycles said that the directives was to  control the activities of bandits operatives that mostly use the motorcycles for their operations.

“Intelligence reports shows that over 300 commercial motorcycles were sold in just 2 days in Minna alone, which was very uncommon to us. When interrogated it was found out that the motorcycles were purchased to be handed over as ransoms to bandits in Niger and other neighboring states”.

The SSG who further commended the ongoing operations of various security outfits in the state including the local vigilantes, emphasized that the state is making every efforts in making sure the activities of bandits, ISWAP and other crimes are curtailed across the state.

Emmanuel Ukoh