Residents of Borgu Kingdom in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State have cried out to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to urgently deploy security forces to halt the persistent killings in the area.
The appeal followed recent attacks in which no fewer than six youths, including some staff members of the Kainji National Park, were reportedly killed in Wawa town of the local government area.
President Tinubu is the holder of the traditional title Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, a title conferred on him by the emirate now grappling with escalating insecurity.
Raising the alarm over the situation, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu Kingdom, said residents of the area were being killed in large numbers by bandits.
Dantoro made the appeal on Saturday while addressing a press conference in Kaduna, where he described the security situation in Borgu as alarming and called for immediate federal intervention.
He said the continued attacks on communities in the emirate showed that the existing security architecture had failed to protect lives and property.
According to him, several communities in Borgu Local Government Area, including Wawa (Gbere), New Bussa, Babana and Dugga, had come under repeated attacks, leading to loss of lives, displacement of residents and disruption of economic activities.
Reading from a prepared statement, Dantoro said, “Our people are dying in droves. Communities are under siege. Farmers cannot go to their farms, children can no longer attend school safely, and families are living in constant fear.”
He added that insecurity in the kingdom had reached a critical stage, with many residents feeling abandoned by the authorities.
Dantoro warned that the continued attacks threatened the survival of the Borgu Kingdom and questioned the relevance of traditional titles if the people were left unprotected.
“Mr President, when the Borgu Kingdom falls, what meaning does the title Jagaban hold? What honour is there in a title if the emirate is destroyed,” he asked.
He called for the immediate deployment of a special military task force to Borgu within seven days and the establishment of permanent military bases in strategic communities across the emirate.
The son of the late monarch also demanded the sealing of porous borders linking Nigeria, Benin Republic and Niger Republic, alleging that attackers were exploiting the borders to carry out assaults and escape.
Dantoro urged the Federal Government to appoint a Special Security Adviser for Borgu Kingdom and ensure regular security briefings directly to the President.
He also called for the removal of security commanders who had failed to secure the area, while urging the government to reward officers who demonstrated bravery and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Niger State Police Command are combing the bushes in search of missing persons after bandits killed six villagers.
A source in the community who pleaded anonymity told Sunday that the community received the bodies of the six dead farmers and pleaded that the federal and state governments should address the recurring terrorist attacks in Borgu LGA.
“The community of Wawa in Borgu Local Government Area has confirmed the tragic loss of our brothers from the Wawa community.
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“The crisis erupted following reports that a prominent youth was attacked on his farm. A group of youths mobilised and went into the bush to confront suspected bandits in an attempt to rescue him.
“While some of the youths returned safely, others were declared missing. Sadly, the situation has taken a tragic turn. Six unidentified bodies were recovered from the scene, and security operatives conveyed them from the bush to the community.
“As of now, our brothers have been officially confirmed dead, plunging Wawa community into mourning.
“This heartbreaking incident has caused deep pain, fear, and trauma among families, friends, and residents of the community.
“Residents of Borgu have called on both state and the federal government to come to their aid and rid our land of the activities of bandiìts and ensure peace is restored in the area,” the source said.
The villagers gave the names of the victims as Bokobe, Luku, a member of the local vigilante group, Bahgado Bohboh, Naziru Kidebe, Abdulrahman Kidebe, popularly known as Ogede, and Bashiru Dahtobeh, all males from the same community.
The police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the killings in a WhatsApp message he sent titled, ‘Six bodies recovered in Damala Village via Wawa, New-Bussa’, saying investigation had been intensified to locate other missing persons.