Insecurity: Niger State Governor urges communities to be vigilant  

The Governor of Niger State Abubakar Sani Bello has urged people to be vigilant and observant of the activities in their neighborhood.

The Governor stated this during a visit on Monday to some communities recently attacked by bandits in Mashegu Local government area of the state.

The Governor’s spokesperson Mary Noel explained that the visit was aimed at obtaining first-hand information on the incidents to enable the government strategise and plan on how to prevent reoccurrence.

“It is unfortunate that people are being attacked while saying their prayers early in the morning.”

“I’m here to get first-hand information so that we can plan on how to stop such things from happening” added Gov Sani Bello

According to the spokesperson, the Governor who sympathised with the Tugan Ba’ari, Adogon

Malam and Mazakuka communities  on the situation, further stressed on  the need for them to make peace and be on the watch out for people with questioable character amongst them.

He further urged them to workout modalities on how to fish out bad eggs among them so as to assist the security agents in curtailing the situation pointing out that there cannot be a successful attack without an insider.

“I call on the community members to pay attention to their neighbours and to be very observant of what is going on around them”, he said.

While assuring the people that government will not rest on it oars in evolving measures that would prevent reoccurrence, The Governor also expressed optimism that the commission of inquiry he had earlier set up would do a thorough job.

The Council Chairman of Mashegu, Alh. Alhassan Isah Mazakuka who disclosed to the Governor that 17 people were killed, 19 kidnapped and 8 injured at Ba’ari while praying in the mosque last week, said some of the victims who sustained injury in the attack are receiving treatment at the General Hospital Kontagora while some were referred to Kebbi State for treatment.

Mazakuka, Adogon Malam, and other communities in Mashegu have been experiencing series of attacks by bandits in recent times.

Dominica Nwabufo