Boko Haram has Taken Over Niger State, Says LGA Chairman

By Uche Mbah

Eight Wards in Niger state, comprising of 500 communities, have been taken over by Boko Haram terrorist Organisation, says Suleiman Chukuba, Chairman of Shiroro LGA in Niger state.

It has been gathered that in these communities, Boko Haram now impose tax on indigens, to the helpless chagrin of the State Government, thereby indicating a parallel Government.

Last April, they hoisted their flag in the State, making it officially a conquered territory.

During his speech at the United Nations, President Buhari had claimed that Boko Haram has been reduced to a small band attacking soft targets.

But speaking with journalists Friday, Chukuba said the occupied areas are Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawi, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwasi, Chukuba, and Galadima Kogo.

“They incorporate the people of those communities by telling them they have arms and money to give them so they can assist them in fighting the Government,” he said.

“Shiroro Local Government has an uncountable number of Boko Haram fighters.

“I have the proof being that I am the Executive Chairman, the Chief Security Officer of the Local Government.

When they go to the various communities, what they tell them is that ‘We don’t want primary, secondary schools. We only want Islamiyya schools.’”

He appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more security operatives to the affected area to fight the terrorists.

Controversies have trailed Boko Haram activities in the country in the last twenty years.

While the Military claim they have been technically defeated, they continue to wax stronger in the Northeast. Over the years, they have spread their activities to other parts of the North, with the ambition to drift to the South.

Over 3,000 indigenes are now quartered at the camp for Internally displaced persons.