We’ve lost over 500 lives to banditry, paid N200m ransom – Niger stakeholders cry out

Niger stakeholders have raised the alarm over the rising wave of insecurity threatening the peace of the state, saying the menace was taking its toll on the people’s lives and disrupting their economic activities.

In specific terms, they said over 500 people had so far been killed by the bandits in 320 communities, while not less than N200million was paid as ransom at different times to secure the release of the abductees from their captors since the hoodlums stormed the state in the last three months .

Besides, the stakeholders also said not less than nine local government areas had come under the bandits’ siege with tales of on its trail.

The positions were made Tuesday by Shiroro Progressives Forum (SPF), an umbrella body for youths in Shiroro local government of the state and the Coalition of Public Interest Group (CPIG).

Addressing journalists in Minna at a joint news conference, President of the forum, Mr. Bello Ibrahim and Convener of the group, Mr. Mohammed Saidu Etsu said the state was yet to feel the impact of any intervention from the military since the hoodlums invaded the state.

Expressing worry over the security situation in the state, Mr. Ibrahim said the bandits had sustained attacks on several communities spreading across nine local governments of the state on daily basis, with little resistance from security agencies.

He lamented that the recent order by President Mohammadu Buhari to the military to commence air raid in the areas under the bandits’ siege was yet to be effected three weeks after the presidential directive.

Ibrahim said: “Military operations have not been seen in action in the area. We only saw helicopters hovering over our heads and this is laughable. We all know where these criminals are and everybody know that the bandits are camping in Alawa game reserve. The helicopter hovers around with no effect, no single bomb has been dropped. The military always say they did not see the bandits.