Communities across five local government areas of Niger state have appealed to military authority and government not to withdraw troops from their areas, expressing the fear that kidnappers and hoodlums will take advantage to resume heinous activities.
The leaders of the communities led by Malam Imam Abdulaziz Usman, and accompanied by Senator David Umaru, representing Niger East senatorial district at the National Assembly, stated this yesterday in a press conference in Minna.
Usman, who spoke on behalf of the elders of the communities said there has been relative peace in the communities across five local governments of Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Gurara, Raffin and Bosso, following the deployment of troops in January this year to tackle kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
Usman said there was increasing tension in the area over the planned withdrawal of troops from the areas since it was obvious that criminal elements displaced from neighbouring Zamfara state were relocating to their communities, adding that “these criminals will start to strike the moment the soldiers are withdrawn.
He said that over five persons have been killed in Zazzanga communities of Muya local government area, adding that more than 40 people were killed across the affected areas by the bandits within a space of three months before the deployment of the military.
According to him, “the planting season has come and our people are going to farm because of the presences of the troops. Some of us are just returning to the homes after months of exile but the sad news is that the troops are going to leave us just when we needed them most. We do not want them to go and leave us in the hands of the criminals.”
He commended the soldiers for raiding the criminal hideouts and arresting some of them in addition to recovery of hundreds of rustled cattle.
He said, “We commend the state and federal governments, the military authority and Senator representing the Niger East senatorial district, Barr David Umaru for acting promptly by deploying troops to the areas. However, we want to appeal that the planned withdrawal of soldiers should be put on hold and instead we want permanent security presence in the affected local government areas.
While commending the military for a job well done in the communities, Senator David Umaru expressed concern over the planned withdrawal of the troops, saying such action would affect the relative peace that had recently returned to his constituency.
