Drama as Councillor, Ibrahim Mai Farare chases govt officials with dogs, thugs in Niger

The Councillor representing Tundun Wada Ward in Chachanga local government area, Ibrahim Mai Farare, has chased away officials of the Niger State Environment Protection Agency (NSEPA) with dogs and thugs for inviting him to answer some questions on a proposed gas plant he is setting up within the community.

The Councillor is having a running battle with members of his ward over the proposed gas plant.

Residents in the community had called on the government and relevant agencies to put a stop to the plant, claiming it would be dangerous to safety in the community.

The Councillor representing Tundun Wada Ward in Chachanga local government area, Ibrahim Mai Farare, has chased away officials of the Niger State Environment Protection Agency (NSEPA) with dogs and thugs for inviting him to answer some questions on a proposed gas plant he is setting up within the community.

The Councillor is having a running battle with members of his ward over the proposed gas plant.

Residents in the community had called on the government and relevant agencies to put a stop to the plant, claiming it would be dangerous to safety in the community.

They argued there could be explosion owing to the many commercial activities in the community that require fire.

When The Nation visited the community, it was observed most traders fry beans and cheese with many bakeries and suya sellers also around.

To douse raging tension, some officials of the Niger State Environment Protection Agency met the Councillor with a letter of invitation last week.

But they were chased away by dogs and thugs who beat them up.

Although the Councillor did not reply to calls by The Nation, he confirmed the development on a live radio show on Crusaders Radio in Minna.

When asked about the incident on air, the Councillor said: “Yes, I killed them, I did not only pursue them, I killed them.”

One of the residents of the community, Usman Galadima Mohammed, who called in on the live show, also confirmed the incident.

He said thugs beat the NSEPA staff mercilessly before dogs chased them away.

A top Senior Official of NSEPA told The Nation in confidence that the agency has charged the Councillor to the court, describing him as too arrogant and a village champion.

The Official disclosed that there is no approval for the setting up of a gas plant in the community.

Some of the residents however claimed that the Councillor is not the owner of the gas plant but protecting the owner after allegedly collecting N200,000.

One of them, Annas Danlami, explained the owner of the gas plant rented the space for N500,000 with the promise he would only sell gas accessories only for the community to see a plant being set up.

He alleged when resisted, the owner started inducing some powerful groups and individuals to buy their approval but youths in the community maintained their stance against setting up the plant.

When asked on Crusaders radio about the alleged collection of N200,000, the Councillor ended the call