Niger State government has cried out over the presence of members of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists in Borgu and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state.
The Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG) Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, stated this on Tuesday in a press briefing with the newsmen in his office at the Government House Minna.
He disclosed that the ISWAP members have already established their presence in Babana, a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
According to Niger State SSG, the Boko Haram terrorists are also operating in some communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
He reaffirmed a statement credited to Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, in the state about the presence of some Boko Haram elements in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking further about the precarious security situation in the state at the moment, he said that the “ISWAP elements are operating in the periphery of Nigeria and Benin Republic, specifically in the areas of the Kainji National Park and around the vast areas of the park up till Banana, a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.”
Matane revealed further that they have made some audio recordings stating that they are there, that they are not kidnappers, bur a religious organisation that is poised at establishing a caliphate in the area that will deal with issues of criminality and other related matters.
He noted that ISWAP elements were the same people that kidnapped a traditional ruler.
Ibrahim Matane said that the ISWAP members cannot enter into Benin Republic because the Benin Republic authorities have put a barrier on their border. So they are only operating along the periphery of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
Speaking further, he explained that the presence of the Boko Haram terrorist group was also in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
He added that the Boko Haram group are trying to convince the people in the rural communities to join their group, and instigating the villagers against the government by indoctrinating the people.
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