Niger: Governor Bello flees Nigeria amid insecurity

Amid fears following series of attacks by bandits and the dreaded Boko Haram group in Niger, the state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has travelled out of the country.

IDOMA VOICE reports that unknown gunmen suspected to be bandits on Sunday evening, abducted about 200 schoolchildren from Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The bandits were said to have arrived in their numbers on motorcycles and started shooting sporadically into the air. This online news platform understands that the state among other states in the northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a series of abductions of schoolchildren and the bloodshed of hundreds of citizens.

One among many is the abduction of dozens of children from Government Science College (GSC) Kagara who were later released after weeks of outcry.

However, Mary Noel-Berje, chief press secretary to the state governor, on Monday, May 31 confirmed in a statement that Governor Bello assured the state of the rescue and safe return of the students of Tanko Islamic School.

Speaking on the governor’s trip abroad, Noel-Berje said governor Bello is expected back in the country “within the shortest period”.

She said: “Governor Sani Bello also assured all Nigerlites that Government will continue to do all it can to protect the lives and property of its citizens while guaranteeing the continued peace and stability of the state,”

“While assuring the parents of the abducted children of their safe return as the security agencies have been directed to do all it can to bring back the children as soon as possible, the Governor also urged the citizens to cooperate and share intelligence and information that will help in the quick rescue of the children.”