Residents of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State are beginning to desert their homes for the Benin Republic following persistent attacks by armed men.
The development was revealed by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Representatives candidate for Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency, Murtala Haliru Dantoro, who has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to urgently deploy a permanent and sustained security presence to the area.
Dantoro, who raised the alarm over the worsening security situation in the area during a press conference, warned that residents were increasingly living under siege, with killings, kidnappings, displacement and restrictions on farming and movement affecting communities across the emirate.
He urged the government to adopt proactive measures to prevent attacks rather than responding only after lives and property had been lost.
According to him, the people of Borgu were not asking the government to rescue them after attacks had occurred, but were demanding adequate security capable of preventing such attacks.
“We are not asking to be rescued after the fact. We are asking for security before the fact.”
Dantoro stressed that Borgu was not seeking charity from the government, but the protection and security guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen.
He also expressed concern over the destruction of a major bridge linking Borgu with the Republic of Benin, Kebbi and Sokoto States, describing the infrastructure as a critical economic lifeline for the people of the emirate.
He said the loss of the bridge had disrupted movement, trade and other economic activities, further worsening the hardship faced by residents.
The ADC candidate warned that the deteriorating security situation was now forcing some residents to cross into the Republic of Benin in search of safety.
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He described the development as both a humanitarian emergency and a national security concern, urging the Federal and Niger State governments to intervene before more residents are displaced from their communities.
Dantoro also appealed to local and international humanitarian organisations to urgently assist displaced persons from Babanna and other affected communities, particularly women and children.
He called for the provision of shelter, healthcare, food and other essential humanitarian support for those affected by the crisis.
The ADC candidate urged President Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies to give Borgu the security attention it deserves, stressing that residents must be able to “sleep, farm, trade and travel without fear.”
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