Niger State Government has issued a two months notice to people living in hamlets around Kainji Lake to vacate the area and be resettled by the Emirate Council.
The resettlement has become necessary to avoid collateral damage, as the government prepares for a military offensive to flush out terrorists in the area.
Niger state Governor, Umar Bago, disclosed this when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, at his palace in New Bussa, to sympathise with him and the entire people of the Emirate over the recent terrorist attack that claimed over 42 lives and left unspecified others abducted.
According to him, his administration, in collaboration with the federal government, is determined to clear the forest, flush out criminals who use Kainji Lake as their base and make the land more habitable for people.
He decried the influx of people into the Emirates without being profiled, noting that it has become a security concern even as the activities of informants have hampered security efforts in the Emirate.
The Governor, therefore, tasked the Emirate Council to rise up to its responsibility and join forces with the security agencies and government at all levels to combat any form of insecurity in the Emirate.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, assured that the federal government is also committed to ensuring peace and security across the country; hence will support every effort aimed at achieving this goal.
The Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, pledged to work closely with relevant authorities to identify and prosecute informants in the Emirate, pointing out that the security of lives and property is paramount; noting that no stone will be left unturned in securing them.
According to him, it will be a welcome development if some concrete actions are taken to relocate the people while the forest is taken back and deployed for further community use.
It could be recalled that the Borgu local government area came under attack on January 4 when the Kasuwan-Daji market was attacked and traders numbering about 42 were killed, while an unspecified number of others were abducted.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
