Concerned youths demand action as bandits declare republic in Niger State
The Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State have claimed that bandits have effectively established a ‘republic’ within the state, despite recent claims of improved security in the region.
The group contends that these marauding terrorists have gained such dominance that they operate freely in unsecured villages, instilling fear and committing heinous acts at will.
In a statement released to the press in Minna, the youths asserted that the bandits now dictate life and death in their territories, asserting their control with alarming audacity.
“They have so far succeeded in creating a republic within a sovereign nation. It can’t be worse than this!” the statement, co-signed by Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki, Convener of the Concerned Shiroro Youths, and Secretary Shuaib Awaisu Wana, reads.
The alarming situation has escalated, with reports of terrorists planting bombs and landmines in villages under their control.
Read also:Bandits reject ₦3m ransom for release of abducted villagers
According to the group, Bassa community recently witnessed multiple bomb explosions, tragically resulting in the death of three individuals who were heading to their farms.
Notably, Bassa has suffered from two IED explosions in less than two weeks, highlighting the perilous environment.
The youths highlighted that the situation has worsened following the withdrawal of the Nigerian Army, previously deployed to combat terrorism in the Allawa axis of Shiroro, after losing two officers to IED attacks.
Consequently, many communities in this area have been abandoned, forcing villagers to become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in distant lands.
The group expressed distress over the “graveyard silence” from both the federal and Niger state governments regarding the suffering of the residents.
They called for the restoration of military bases in Allawa, Bassa, and Kukoki to counter the threat effectively.
Furthermore, the youths urged the government to provide medical attention to the injured and displaced, while also implementing a comprehensive intervention program for affected communities. This program should include infrastructure restoration, economic empowerment initiatives, educational support, and mental health services for victims of violence.
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