The Niger State Government on Tuesday stated that it has so far expended at least ₦5 billion in addressing security challenges in the State.
The State Government, SSG, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane made this claim in Minna on Tuesday when speaking to newsmen.
He explained that the funds were spent on logistics and equipment for security agencies, Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, flood victims among others.
Out of the ₦5b, the state government spokesman said over ₦300m was spent on the IDPs displaced from their ancestral homes by bandits, while ₦303 was expended on victims of floods in the state.
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Matane also decried the lack of manpower of the Police in Niger State despite its large landmass, arguing, that there are less than 8,000 policemen in the state.
‘This means that 70 percent of the people have no police to help secure their lives’.
He noted that a total of 151,380 persons have so far been displaced by the activities of bandits in the state within the last two years.
He said the affected local governments are Rafi, Shiroro, Bosso, Munya, Paiko, Mariga, Kontagora, Mashegu, Wushishi.
‘Though, the security challenges are more in five to six local governments, Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, Mariga, Mashegu, Lapai and Borgu. All the LGs share borders with neighbouring states. Munya shares with Kaduna, Mariga, Rafi with Zamfara and Kaduna, Mashegu with Kebbi, while Lapai with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Kogi, Borgu with neighbouring countries of Benin Republic and Niger,‘ the SSG added.
Africa Today News, New York reports that this is coming less than one week after the Niger State Government cried out over the activities of Boko Haram terrorists in no fewer than five communities in Rafi and Shiroto Local Government Areas of the State.
He named the communities to include – Kurebe, Farina Kuka, Gussau in Shiroro LGA and Madaka, Hanawanka in Rafi LGAs of the state.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK