Youths Barricade Kutigi Road Over Government Negligence On Lavun Attack

Youths in Kutigi, headquarters of Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State and nearby communities have blocked the highway passing through the Kutigi town linking Bida-to-Mokwa.

The youth, on Monday, in their large numbers expressed displeasure over the lack of prompt response from government officials and security agencies to salvage communities being attacked by gunmen since Friday.

Road users are stranded as the aggrieved persons said no government officer or public office holders, including the Lavin Local Government Chairman, has responded to their distress calls despite the killings and raiding of communities in the area except Bida Emirate and the vigilantes.

The people, however, appreciated the bravery exhibited by the traditional institution and vigilantes for neutralizing the gunmen.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has said the terrorists who invaded some communities in Wushishi, Mashegun and Lavun Local government areas of the state have been enclosed by security operatives around the flanks of river Kaduna.  

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Mr Emmanuel Umar, shortly after the emergency security meeting chaired by Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello at the government house,  Minna. 

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State, Mary Noel-Berje said the Commissioner explained that eight of the gunmen were killed and others rounded up after the heavy security presence along Wushishi routes forced them to move through Lavun and Mashegu Local Governments attacking some communities. 

"The conventional and nonconventional security operatives engaged the bandits during which eight were killed.  

"The criminals were believed to have moved over to Wushishi local government where they attacked communities like Akere, and the rest and then moved over knowing that there are security measures put in place in the routes. They moved to Lavin local government, from there, they touched a part of Kutigi the headquarters of the local government operating within the flanks of River Kaduna axis", he explained further. 

He said security personnel have been fully mobilized and are being supported by Airstrikes to ensure that the criminals are neutralised. 

The Commissioner however called on  the public to manage information to ensure success, pointing out that "in a period like this, there are anxieties and panicking, it is natural but the government will always respond to credible information appropriately."

On the recent bomb explosion in Galadiman Kogo, Umar said the state government was still expecting reports from the Nigerian Police but said no life was lost in the incident.  

He reassured the people that the state government is doing everything possible using Kinetic and non-Kinetic approaches to ensure that peace returns to the state. 

"Criminals are in our space, it is our responsibility to flush them out and we are not relenting, we are determined to do that. 

"The security operatives and community members are also more committed now to see that these criminals are wiped out," he said. 

The Commissioner said he cannot make public their tactical operations, stressing that the government is carrying out massive operations to protect lives and property as well as ensure the safe return of the Internally Displaced Persons to their communities, even as some in Kontagora have started returning.