The Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents on Monday hoisted their flag in Kaore village in Shiroro Local Government Area.
The governor, also revealed that the insurgents have extended the attacks to communities in Munya local government area of the state.
The governor made this disclosure in Minna on Monday when he visited the Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) camp at Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) primary school in Minna, the state capital.
According to reports, no fewer than 50 communities across the two local government areas have so far fallen under the control of Boko Haram with about 3,000 villagers already displaced in the last three days.
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Speaking on Monday, the governor said; ‘I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements around Kaure in Shiroro local government of Niger State. They have taken over the territory. They have equally installed their flag. I am confirming to you now that they have taken over the wives of people by force,’
Governor Sani Bello while describing the current situation in the state as ‘critical and pathetic’, added that over 3,000 villagers escaped to Minna on Sunday night alone while several others are in other camps in Gwada and other places.
‘Majority of the displaced persons will have to remain in this camp in Minna because their villages have been taken over by Boko Haram terrorists/bandits. Their wives have been seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram elements’.
He warned that the Boko Haram terrorists are trying to make Kaure their home and headquarters like they did to Sambisa forest, stressing that the danger is that while Sambisa forest is several kilometres away from Abuja, Kaure is only two hours drive to Abuja.
This, he warned, makes the federal capital unsafe if nothing urgently is done to curtail the situation
He explained that his administration has been engaging the federal government to come to the aid of the state in dealing with the insecurity which has brought the state to its kneel in the last six years, adding that such efforts have not yielded desired results thereby making it possible for the terrorists to now occupy an area of the state.
‘I have been engaging the federal government and unfortunately, it has gotten to this stage and if care is not taken even Abuja is not safe. We have been saying this for long and all efforts have been in vain.’ he added.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK