There is red alert for residents of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city as Boko Haram terrorists have taken over portions of Niger State, hoisting their flag as they sieve women and young girls.
Sounding the alarm on the Boko Haram terrorists’ presence, Governor Sani Bello said that they have taken over a part of Niger State, hoisting their flag in Kaure village from where they had overrun over 50 villages which has now been deserted by their original inhabitants.
Governor Bello told journalists on Monday at an Internally Displaced Camp (IDP) in the State capital, Minna, that Abuja was not safe with Boko Haram’s presence in Niger State.
According to him, “I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements around Kaure in the Shiroro Local Government of Niger State. They have taken over the territory. They have hoisted their flag. I am confirming to you now that they have taken over the wives of people by force.”
Bello, while describing the situation in the State as critical and pathetic, said over 3,000 villagers escaped to Minna on Sunday night alone, while several others were in camps in Gwada and other places.
“The majority of the displaced persons will have to remain in this camp in Minna because their villages have been taken over by Boko Haram terrorists and bandits. Their wives have been seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram elements,” he said.
He warned that the Boko Haram terrorists were trying to make Kaure their home and headquarters like they did in Sambisa forest, adding that while Sambisa forest is several kilometres away from Abuja, Kaure is only two hours drive to Abuja.
He explained that his administration had been asking the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state in dealing with the insecurity, adding that such efforts had not yielded desired results thereby making it possible for the terrorists to occupy a part of the state.
Addressing the Governor at the IDP camp, a Youth leader, Bulus Esu, said his people in Kuchi, one of the most populated towns in the Munya Local Government Area, had been displaced by the terrorists.
He said, “For three weeks now, there is no person living in Kuchi town and there is no food for the fleeing residents. The bandits have entered very deep into the area and have overrun several villages. They have occupied Kuchi.”
Esu said the bandits two weeks ago demanded N5m ransom from the people of Kampana to prevent them from being kidnapped.
He added, “The people did this to avoid kidnap. However, when they came back, they asked the women to cook food for them after which they still raped the women.”
Meanwhile, to underscore the widespread insecurity in Nigeria, no fewer than 40 persons, including four soldiers, 14 policemen, two vigilantes and 19 herders were killed on Monday in fresh attacks by gunmen in Anambra, Imo, Kebbi, Rivers and Kebbi States.
And the same Monday, the bandits who kidnapped students of Greenfield University, Kaduna killed additional two, bringing the total number of abducted students killed to five. Three of the students were killed on Friday and their corpses dumped close to the school.
Also on Monday, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Professor Richard Kimbir, said kidnappers attacked the institution on Saturday night and abducted four students.
On Tuesday last week, 65 people were kidnapped at the Adara community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state, when gunmen attacked the area.
In the early hours of Thursday, gunmen attacked Idon General Hospital also in the Kajuru Local Government Area and abducted two nurses.
On Sunday, bandits attacked Haske Baptist Church in Mannai Tasha village in Kuriga ward of the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
In Kebbi State, the Police said nine of their personnel were killed by bandits in the Sakaba Local Government Area of the State.
In Kaduna State, bandits on Sunday night invaded Kofar Kuyambana Low Cost Housing Estate in Zaria and kidnapped two housewives.