Niger govt raises the alarm over rise in Boko Haram camps within communities

The Niger State Government raised an alarm on Tuesday about the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists establishing camps.

This was revealed by Ahmed Matane, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), during a press conference in Minna, the state capital.

He decried the recent increase in bandit attacks on innocent residents, alleging that they were now collaborating with insurgents to exacerbate the state’s security situation.

Matane also revealed that bandits have joined forces with insurgents to indoctrinate residents in some Shiroro LGA communities to imbibe strict Islamic ideology and prohibit women from attending school.

Read Also:  In Borno, troops kill’scores of ISWAP terrorists’ destroy equipment

He named Koki, Madaka, Kurebe, Kusare, and Chukuba as some of the communities visited by the insurgents, where residents were promised protection but encouraged to engage in civil disobedience and reject western education.

“These people (Boko Haram) frequently visit communities to communicate with residents and assure them that they will not harm them, and they also join them during Friday congregational prayer to preach to them on the need to abandon western education and engage in civil disobedience.”

“These are some of Boko Haram’s characteristics,” he said, referring to the North East and the Sambisa Forest axis.

He went on to say that ISWAP fighters were also attempting to establish a permanent camp near the Kaiji National Park in Borgu LGA’s Babana Forest.

He claimed that insurgents, who have been spotted in communities bordering Nigeria and Benin Republic, have begun indoctrinating locals.

Read Also:  Nigerians can’t survive another four years under the APC, say PDP governors

“They also made a video claiming to be religious rather than kidnappers.” They claim to have been sent by God to establish an Islamic caliphate. We are not negotiating with them, despite their reconciliation,” he said.