In 21 hours, this was the picture in the vast land of Niger: 41 pupils, teachers and family members from Government Science College, Kagara, were abducted. One, Benjamin Habila Doma was slain in a Tuesday night attack by gunmen.
At another end of the ‘power state’, in fact, near one of the country’s large hydro-power generating stations is located, the Shiroro Dam, gunmen went gaga moving through the communities of Sarkin Zama, Lagbe (Bakin Kogi), Siyiko, Kokki, and other adjoining villages, killing three, injuring and taking 15 souls away as spoils of war.
Everyone was dazed, including Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, whose government was most of yesterday quiet on the latest onslaught. Bello is known to have lamented to Abuja in numerous visits the insecurity and lack of federal facilities in his state.
Bello’s headache was further compounded when a youth group went viral with a message that he should quit power in 21 days, if he could no longer secure and administer the state.
A top government house official was Thursday night dismissive of the group. “They should come and resign him if he doesn’t. Rubbish!,” the official said.
Co-Convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Kokki, whose is believed to be from one of the attacked communities told Channel Television He said the attack took place on Wednesday night as the state was grappling with the shock of the abduction of students, teachers, and other GSSS, Kagara.
Kokki said the gunmen stormed the village in large numbers, heavily armed.
He added that the attack lasted for hours, claiming at least one life with two persons injured.
He disclosed that one person was shot in the eye while the other was shot around the armpit.
He maintained that those sustained injuries had been rushed to Kuta General Hospital, and were undergoing treatment.
But the Niger state Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Usman, was optimistic on Thursday while receiving a fresh infusion of a detachment of over 300 men under the Operation Puff – Adder 11 in Minna.
He announced the deployment of four units of Police Moble Force and Special forces to Rafi, Shiroro Munya, Bangi, Lapai/Agaie Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He sought the cooperation of locals to help out the Police.
Meanwhile, media reports quote a youth group, under the auspices of the Nigeria Youth Movement, Niger State chapter, calling on Governor Bello to tender his resignation letter within 21 days.
In a notice posted on the social media platforms of Niger indigenes, ‘Nigerlites Speak out’, signed by the Co-ordinator, NYM Niger State Chapter, Yusuf Yakatun, the group said, “We cannot pretend to be happy with the situation and the style of leadership in Niger State. It’s very unfortunate that a promising year like 2021 has been cut short for many families through your actions: incompetence, unjust leadership, unemployment and insecurity.
“We have watched a short video clip of NSTA travellers abducted with utter dismay and disillusionment …, sadly, and we also received a shocking news of killings and kidnapping of GOVERNMENT SCIENCE COLLEGE KAGARA Students.
“However, we cannot longer subscribe to your maladministration and futile excuses or even tolerate callous attitude of your leadership.
“We have issued out a 21 days ultimatum to the Executive Governor of Niger State to resign or bring back the abducted NSTA and G.C.K. School children/or face a mass protest in Niger State.”