Stakeholders from Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas of Niger State appeal to the Federal Government and the Niger State Government to urgently intervene as insecurity worsens across their communities, following repeated bandit attacks, killings, and mass displacement of residents.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the appeal targets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, and the National Security Adviser, with a strong request for the deployment of more security personnel and the establishment of a permanent military base in the affected areas to restore safety and confidence.
The stakeholders raise their concerns during a press conference in Suleja after fresh attacks reportedly claim more than 300 lives, displace thousands of people, and force the closure of schools across Borgu and Agwara local councils. They warn that daily life has almost come to a halt as fear spreads across rural communities.
Mediaplusng.com reports that religious leaders, traditional representatives, and community figures describe the situation as critical, noting that residents now live in constant fear, abandon farms, and flee their homes at night to avoid attacks by armed groups operating from nearby forests.
Speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter, and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Bulus Yohanna, says insecurity in Agwara Local Government Area reaches an alarming level. He explains that many residents now sleep in bushes and open fields to escape night raids by bandits.
Bishop Yohanna reveals that schools, especially in Papiri community, remain closed as parents and children flee to safer areas. He adds that farming activities stop completely in many villages, worsening hunger and poverty among already vulnerable families.
He calls on Governor Umaru Bago to take urgent and decisive action to bring lasting peace to the area. The bishop also appeals to the Senator representing Niger North Senatorial District, Abubakar Bello, to engage the Presidency and ensure rapid federal intervention to protect lives and property.
Representatives of the Muslim community from the Borgu Emirate also confirm that several women and children remain in captivity after recent attacks on Kasuwan Daji, Woro, and surrounding communities. They warn that without swift government action, the humanitarian situation could deteriorate further.
Community leaders say bandits exploit vast forest reserves and weak security presence to carry out attacks along major roads and villages. They stress that the lack of permanent security installations allows criminal groups to regroup and strike repeatedly.
A prince of Borgu Kingdom, Murtala Dantoro, urges the National Security Adviser to coordinate a comprehensive inter-agency operation involving the military, police, and intelligence services. He says a joint and sustained approach is necessary to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.
Dantoro emphasizes that temporary deployments are no longer enough, calling instead for a permanent military base to secure highways, protect farming communities, and block escape routes used by bandits.
Stakeholders also express concern over the humanitarian impact of the violence, noting that thousands of displaced persons now rely on relatives and informal support systems, with little access to food, healthcare, or education.
They urge both federal and state governments to complement security operations with relief materials, trauma support, and reconstruction of damaged communities once stability is restored.
The stakeholders stress that Borgu Kingdom remains a peaceful and productive area with strong agricultural potential, but continued insecurity threatens its economic survival and social cohesion.
They call on authorities to act swiftly, warning that further delay could deepen displacement, disrupt food production, and erode public trust in government protection.
As insecurity spreads across parts of Niger State, the appeal from Borgu and Agwara communities adds to growing calls nationwide for stronger rural security, intelligence-driven operations, and long-term solutions to banditry.
The stakeholders conclude by urging government at all levels to treat the crisis as a national emergency, insisting that timely intervention can still save lives and restore normalcy to Borgu Kingdom and its neighbouring communities.
