Boko Haram rules 500 communities in Niger — LG chairman

Over 500 communities in eight wards of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been taken over by Boko Haram and other insurgent groups.

Early this year, Governor Abubakar Bello raised the alarm that Boko Haram had hoisted their flag in some communities in Shiroro LGA.

This is even as the chairman of Shiroro council, Suleiman Chukumba, has cried out for help, saying that Boko Haram now rules in most of the communities, accusing the group of trying to equip the people to fight against the government.

Speaking with journalists in Minna on the situation of Shiroro LGA, Chukumba said, “As the chairman of Shiroro LGA, I can tell you that Shiroro is not only dealing with the issue of banditry, it has a lot of Boko Haram. I have proof of this as the chairman.”

He said that Boko Haram has proclaimed that they do not want conventional primary and secondary schools and that their only preference is the Islamic school.

“They have told the people that they do not want primary or secondary school in the communities and that they only want to see Islamic schools. They have been trying to incorporate and recruit residents of the communities to become their members, telling them that they will give the recruits arms and assist them in fighting the government,” Chukumba stated.

He expressed worries that the preaching of the Boko Haram members are against the government and that they have been asking residents to be part of what they are doing.

“The entire wards are affected by banditry and Boko Haram insurgents. Five hundred communities in the eight wards are affected. The wards include Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawa, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwati, Chukumba and Galadima Kogo,” he noted.

Chukumba appealed to the Federal Government to bring in more security personnel to help the state disband and dislodge the Boko Haram bandits that had already made Shiroro LGA their home.

(The PUNCH)