Buhari orders military forces to Niger State to stop Boko Haram caliphate, bandits’ killings

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for a heightened military presence in Niger State following cases of killings by Boko Haram and bandits as well as kidnappings in the state. 

The president urged the military to respond “robustly” to the cases of killings and kidnappings even as Boko Haram had taken over two Local Government Areas in the state. 

This was made known in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

According to Shehu, President Buhari as Commander-in-Chief of the nation’s armed forces had set the ball rolling for a major military operation in Niger State which had faced continued attacks on its communities by bandits and remnants of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing theatres of war in the Northwestern and Northeastern parts of the country.

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In his message to the government and people of Niger State, President Buhari said, “I would like to express sincere sympathies to the government and people of the State following recent security incidents.”

He further said security was a responsibility of every member of the community and only through solidarity and cooperation with law enforcement agencies “can we defeat the problems finally.” 

“The Federal Government is willing to strengthen support and cooperation with all the states. I believe that with the full cooperation of the citizens, we will surely overcome this problem,” Buhari was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, at least 13 people were confirmed killed in an attack by suspected bandits in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the State.

The police spokesperson in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, said the assailants attacked villagers who were harvesting crops on their farm in Nakundna village in the Shiroro council area. 

A statement by Governor Abubakar Bello, however, indicated that the attack spread to another village called Wurukuchi.

Governor Bello, in a statement by his media aide, Mary Noel-Berje, described the attacks as insane and unacceptable. He added that the act was barbaric and inhumane.

According to the statement, “the governor commiserates with the victims of the attacks which occurred in Nakudna and Wurukuchi communities. He shared in the pains and grief of the victims, reiterating that more decisive actions would be taken to guarantee the lives of the inhabitants of the vulnerable communities.”