Bandits in Niger reject dialogue, as N.5billion spent on security

Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, has regretted the rate of bandits’ attacks in the state even after spending over N470m combating banditry and insecurity.

He noted that the bandits had rejected all the gestures by the state government to engage in dialogue.

Gov. Bello made this statement while speaking at a critical stakeholders’ meeting on the state of affairs of Niger State, held at Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna.

“These bandits are fearless and always ready to unleash terror on Villagers and we thought one of the best ways to solving this insecurity is to dialogue with them but unfortunately, the dialogue collapsed,” he said.

Despite the collapse in the dialogue, the governors said drastic measures would be taken towards giving adequate security to the people of the State in order to save their lives and property.

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“We have spent over N470 million on combating banditry and insecurity in the State. The security situation in Niger state is becoming worrisome however; the government is determined to ensure that the insecurity is addressed and brought down to its barest minimum.

Bello lamented that the bandits had become daring in unleashing terror and fear on the state and the people, adding that the bandits have refused to engage in dialogue with the people.

“They seem to remain committed to carrying out whatever activity they intend to do by unleashing terror on the people and state but are on top of the situation”, he stated.

According to him, many people have been rendered homeless and jobless as they had to flee their ancestral homes and farms for other areas as a result of the invasion by these bandits.

He further said that the number of Internally Displaced Persons across the state has increased to 1,000 as a result of bandit attacks.

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