Ahmed Matane, Secretary to Niger State Government, says the Boko Haram terrorists have taken over five communities in Rafi and Shiroto Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State, Northcentral Nigeria.
The State Government scribe said in Minna, the State capital, on Monday, that the Boko Haram terrorists are fully in charge in Hanawanka, Madaka in Rafi LGA and Kurebe, Gussau and Farina Kuka in Shiroro LGA.
This, he said, has forced the rural residents of the communities to migrate to safer areas.
The terrorists, Matane noted, now move freely in the affected areas, wielding sophisticated and menacing weapons, adding that the State has already notified the security agencies for proper urgent security measures.
Accoring to him, ”we (Niger State government) have spent over N2 billion on the security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the last two years.
“We will continue to accord priority attention to the welfare of security personnel deployed to enable them wipeout all those involved in the illegal acts for peace, progress and political stability.
“We equally appealed to residents to volunteer reliable information on movement of bad characters to the nearest security outfits for security action.
”We have also reached out to traditional and religious leaders as well as stakeholders to mobilize residents to support the effort of the government in the ongoing fight against criminal elements.”
Matane, also acknowledged and applauded the Niger State government efforts at tackling the menace, insisting that the State government will not rest on its oars to bring to a halt security challenges confronting the state.
(NAN)
