Give Us Military Base, Borgu Emirate, Niger Christian Association Beg Tinubu

The people of Borgu Emirate and the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State, have called for the establishment of a military base, saying that the area has become a “terrorist kingdom.”

LEADERSHIP reports that the emirate has witnessed various security challenges, including the abduction of pupils, students and staff members from St Mary Catholic School, Papiri, the Killing of 42 villagers in Kasuwan Daji and the abduction of scores from over 50 villages at intervals since November last year to date.

It was learnt that the people of Borgu Emirate were frightened over the weekend, following the recent attack on the Woro community in Kwara State, as they share boundaries, about 40 kilometres apart.

The chairman of CAN and Catholic Bishop of Kontogora Diocese, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna and a prince of Borgu Emirate, Murtala Dantoro, on behalf of the Concerned Citizens and Community Advocates for Borgu-Agwara, at a joint news conference, said their people were in a dreadful situation.

Yohanna said, “These terrorists are gradually turning Borgu Kingdom into what I can call ‘Terrorists Kingdom’ by killing our people at will, forcing others to flee and coercing some into becoming informants.”

While calling for the establishment of a military base and tight security in the area, the CAN chairman said, “The time to act is now, before we lose more lives and before our communities lose faith entirely in the government’s capacity to protect them.

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank Mr President for the response and directives to the service chiefs in ensuring the security challenges in the local government areas under the Borgu Emirate are addressed,” he said.

He, however, observed that despite the directives, there was no presence of security operatives in the area, prompting many of the villagers to abandon their homelands, invariably the education of their children and farming.

On behalf of the Borgu-Agwara people, Murtala Dantoro, said the people have endured relentless attacks, sustained losses and live in constant fear.

He said, “Borgu Kingdom is bleeding. And we are crying out not in anger, but in anguish for the urgent intervention of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” adding that the bandits have capitalised on poor road infrastructure from Mokwa -Kainji, other places to terrorise the people.

“Mr President, you bear the distinguished title of Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom. This title is not merely ceremonial; it represents a sacred bond between you and the people of this land. We believe in your leadership, and we trust that you will not allow the kingdom that honours you to perish under your watch,” Prince Dantoro said.

Dantoro therefore urged the President to declare Borgu and Agwara local government areas as security priority zones and direct the immediate deployment of military personnel to restore order and confidence in the people.