Bandits Forcing us to Work on their Farms – Niger Residents Cry Out
Residents in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, suffering from persistent insecurity, have raised concerns that terrorists and bandits are forcing them into farm labor. Reports indicate that a terrorist leader seized over 20 bags of soybeans from farms in Allawa and surrounding communities this year.
At a press briefing in Minna, the Niger State capital, Saidu Salihu, Secretary of the Coalition of Shiroro Associations, called for the immediate redeployment of military forces to Allawa and nearby areas to enable displaced residents to resume farming.
Salihu revealed that terrorists and bandits have taken over several communities since soldiers withdrew from the area three months ago. He urged the state government to collaborate more effectively with security agencies and equip local vigilantes to safeguard the affected communities.
He also called for federal and state government compensation for displaced persons who lost homes, property, and livelihoods after the military’s withdrawal.
Salihu further noted that bandits have invited local communities for dialogue and negotiations to ease their return but lamented that both state and federal authorities have not responded to these developments.
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Abdullah Suleiman Erena added that insecurity in the Lakpma axis, which comprises eight political wards, is not limited to banditry but involves other terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Ansaru. He warned that the region is becoming a stronghold for terrorism, which could escalate if left unaddressed.
Erena described the situation as the emergence of a full-fledged terrorist ecosystem, rather than just criminal activity, criticizing both the government and the media for downplaying the severity of the threat. He explained that various terrorist groups are engaged in cattle rustling and coercing locals to farm and sell their produce on their behalf.
He also raised concerns about the proximity of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Shiroro LGA, warning that the terrorists’ presence poses a significant threat to the FCT if not tackled urgently.
Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki criticized the state government for not doing enough to press the federal authorities about the dire security situation in Shiroro LGA, where many farmers have been displaced. He emphasized that mere complaints and assigning blame are insufficient.
“While we acknowledge the existence of informants collaborating with the terrorists and bandits, this should not be an excuse to abandon the majority of the population to their fate,” Yusuf Kokki stated.
Babangida Kudodo, President of the Lakpma Youth Forum, added that despite multiple reports made to stakeholders and the state government about the terrorist and bandit activities, no decisive action has been taken. He also claimed that some informants, after being arrested and later released, became threats to the communities, forcing many residents to cooperate with the terrorists to survive
