RIMI ALIU
GOVERNOR Abubakar Bello of Niger State, on Tuesday, raised the alarm that Boko Haram terrorists had infiltrated the state, hoisted their flags in captured villages and seized villagers’ wives for themselves.
He said the current situation was so worrisome that residents of the Federal Capital Territory might no longer be safe, especially as Kaure was only about two kilometers from Abuja, even though Sambisa was several kilometers away.
The governor said the flag hoisted by the terrorist group was now visible in Kaure Village in Shiroro Local Government Area.
Bello spoke when he visited the Internally Displaced People’s Camp at the IBB Primary School near the Emir of Minna’s Palace.
The number of displaced persons at the camp is over 5,000, according to the Governor, including villagers that were sacked by bandits from their ancestral homes in Shiroro and Munya Local Government Areas.
“I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements here in Niger State. Here in Kaure, in Shiroro Local Government Area, I am confirming that they have hoisted their flags there. The villagers’ wives have been seized from them and forcefully attached to Boko Haram members. I just heard that they have placed their flags at Kaure, meaning they have taken over the territory,” the Governor said.
“This is what I have been engaging the Federal Government on but unfortunately, it has now got to this level. If care is not taken, even Abuja will not be safe. We have been saying this for long but all our efforts have been in vain. But with the latest development, I hope the time has come for a more coordinated military activity to take place,” he stressed.
He said with this development, the Boko Haram terrorists were trying to use the area as their home just as they did in Sambisa.
“Sambisa is several kilometers from Abuja but Kaure is just two hours drive to Abuja, so nobody is safe anymore not even those in Abuja,” Bello warned.
