GOVERNOR Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has declared that his administration will neither negotiate with bandits nor pay ransom to kidnappers, urging residents to take proactive measures in defending themselves against the escalating wave of attacks across the state.
Bago made the declaration during a visit to communities in Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas that recently suffered deadly bandit attacks in the Kontagora axis.
The governor, visibly angered by the worsening insecurity, said the era of appeasing criminals through ransom payments must end, insisting that such gestures only embolden them and turn kidnapping into a thriving enterprise.
“The state has reached a point where our people must rise to defend themselves. Paying ransom is not an option. Once we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue abducting people. The situation has reached a point of war that requires collective resistance,” he said.
Governor Bago said Niger residents have a constitutional right to defend their lives and property, stressing that his government will no longer tolerate helplessness in the face of violent threats.
“We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up. The constitution empowers us to defend our lives and property and that is exactly what we will do. There is no going back,” he said firmly.
Describing the frequent attacks and displacement of communities as “embarrassing and unacceptable,” the governor announced a bold new security plan to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force (JTF) to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies in tackling insecurity across the state.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso sent to News Point Nigeria, said the governor also declared a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state, which covers eight local government areas; Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara.
According to Bago, illegal mining has become one of the major drivers of insecurity in the region, providing cover and funding channels for criminal gangs operating in the forests.
“It is suspicious that miners can enter the forests freely, yet the bandits do not touch them. I have now ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrest anyone caught engaging in mining activities,” he said.
Governor Bago assured victims of recent attacks that his administration will provide immediate relief and long-term support, including compensation for families of those killed, medical care for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their homes or means of livelihood.
He reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring peace and safety across Niger State, promising that his administration will deploy every available resource to protect lives and secure communities.
