In a firm stance against rising insecurity, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has declared that his administration will neither negotiate with bandits nor pay ransom for kidnapped victims. The governor made this known while addressing community leaders and security stakeholders, emphasizing that the era of appeasing criminals was over.
Governor Bago stated that paying ransom only emboldens bandits and fuels further abductions across the state. He urged residents to take responsibility for their safety by organizing community vigilance groups and collaborating with security agencies to repel attacks.
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He further warned that his government will adopt a proactive approach to security, investing heavily in intelligence gathering, local policing, and modern surveillance systems to track criminal movements.
“We will not negotiate with killers and terrorists. Niger State will never pay ransom to criminals. It’s time our people defend their land and protect their families,” Governor Bago said.
The governor’s declaration follows a series of coordinated attacks in rural parts of the state, which have displaced hundreds of residents. Security experts and local leaders have commended his boldness, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring peace and order in the region.
With this development, Niger State joins the growing list of Nigerian states taking a hardline stance against banditry, signaling a shift from ransom-based negotiation to community-led defense strategies.