20 Niger communities raise alarm over insecurity

About twenty Communities of Zazagi in Munya local government of Niger state have appealed to the federal government and Chief of Army Staff (CAS) to retain the military ‘operation Karamin Goro’ that has restored peace, stability and normalcy in the area.

A delegation of the communities led by the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, raised the alarm at a press briefing in Minna, however commended the good and cordial military/civilian relationship exhibited as a sign of modern military.

Senator Umaru maintained that the withdrawal of the military could lead to possible attack if the communities are left on their own after enjoying relative peace from the kidnapping, robbery and farmers/ herdsmen clashes experienced in the past before the intervention of the military.

He decried the disturbing development of the evacuation of the military operations in the area slated for Thursday, April 5 , lamented that their evacuation could lead to subsequent attack on the community by the criminals and the farmers preparation for this year’s farming season would be dashed.

In his remarks, a community leader, Ibrahim Abdul- Aziz who further lamented the various incident of insecurity experienced in the past couple with the payment of ransoms, applauded the relevant authorities for their families intervention urging government not to withdraw the military operations because it will affect their farming activities for the season.

The Youth leader of the community, Usman Idris said that the criminals have committed a lot of havoc and damages in the area before the coming of the military just as they have continued to make arrest of criminals to date.

Idris disclosed that there is raising tension in the area sequel to the plan to withdraw the military operations in the community today Thursday 5, 2018 due to fear of return of the criminals to the community especially at Zazagi where they stationed.

It was gathered that over 40 persons have so far been killed and over 70 communities have been affected in Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Gurara, Rafi and Bosso local governments respectively adding that the military operations begun on 14th December, 2017 to end on Thursday 5, 2018.

When contacted the Special Adviser (SA) on Security matters to the Governor, Mohammed Maikudi said the state government was aware of the withdrawal of the military but already it’s set to dispatch combine team of security taskforce to the area to sustain the tempo, while advising the people to be calm and go about their businesses.