Published 18th Feb, 2022

By Yakubu Mohammed

President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a massive military operation against bandits terrorising Niger State on January 16, but locals told FIJ there has been no military offensive since then.

While reinstating his commitment to ending insecurity, the president, through Garba Shehu, his media aide, had said he “would like to express sincere sympathies to the government and people of the state following recent security incidents”.

Days later, Abubakar Sani Bello, the governor of Niger State, told the president, during a visit to Abuja, that bandits killed 220 residents, and kidnapped 200 in the state in just 19 days. The governor also said he was optimistic that banditry would soon be forgotten in his state.

‘WE ARE STILL BEING MASSACRED’

Locals in Shiroro, Mashegu and other local government areas in Niger State said they are still being dislodged from their communities on a daily basis. Most of the attacks do not make headlines on time, the residents said.

After the president’s order, FIJ has reported no fewer than five attacks in the state, most of which were against military camps.

Out of the five attacks, four were unleashed between January 21 and 31, while one was carried out on February 5.

Sani Yusuf Kokki, a co-convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, told FIJ he was yet to see any semblance of a military offensive against terrorists in Niger State.

“We are still being massacred senselessly by hydra-headed terrorists, even after the presidential order,” he said.

Bello Ibrahim, also a co-convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, corroborated Kokki’s statement. He said, “To the best of my knowledge, there has been no military offensive in Shiroro or any part of Niger State”.

Sources in Mashegu, Mariga and Suleja local government areas also lamented non-stop bandit invasions. They feared the terrorists could take over their homes as the military refused to act.

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