Terrorists Wreak Havoc in Niger State, Displaced Locals Suffer

In the midst of a worsening humanitarian crisis, terrorists have been wreaking havoc in Niger State, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and displacement in their wake. The latest victims of this campaign of terror are at least 17 displaced locals who were killed by terrorists while attempting to collect food for their families.

The incident occurred in June when Kabiru Salihu and Saleh Alhajin Kara, two displaced locals, sneaked back into their terror-stricken home in Bassa village, Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, to collect food for their families. They never returned, and their bodies were later found beheaded, with gory images of their severed heads going viral.

This is not an isolated incident. In April, a landmine attack targeted soldiers newly deployed to Allawa town, forcing the military to shut its base there. Afraid of what would come next, locals also fled, but some people went back secretly to get foodstuff they had left behind. Many of them, like Messrs Salihu and Alhajin Kara, lost their lives in the process.

The displaced persons in Erena town have only received government support once since they were displaced in April. In May, the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management distributed 100 units of 10kg bags of rice, 150 units of 10kg bags of maize, and 150 units of 10kg bags of guinea corn to the displaced persons in Erena. However, this support did not last up to a week, and the displaced persons have been left to care for themselves since then.

The situation is dire, with women and children roaming the streets begging for food and alms, while men dive deep into mining pits or risk their lives to get some of the food they left behind at home. The displaced persons are forced to sleep on the floor, using wrappers and mats, with no access to basic maternal care.

The Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has acknowledged the conditions faced by the displaced persons but claims that the state government has not abandoned them. The ministry has distributed relief materials across various IDP camps in the state, including three major ones in Shiroro: Kuta, Gwada, and Erena. However, the distribution of these materials has been hindered by the security situation in the areas where some of these camps are located.

The campaign of terror in Shiroro has yielded success for the terrorists, who hold sway over territories and impose their ruling system there. The terrorists have also been indoctrinating some villagers, forcing them to adopt their version of Islam. In one instance, a young woman was married to one of the insurgents, and a minor was taken away from his parents to be taught a way of living.

The withdrawal of soldiers from the area has only exacerbated the situation, leaving the displaced persons and those still living in terror-ravaged communities vulnerable to attacks. The state government is planning to relocate the displaced persons and build a resettlement centre for them, but this plan is yet to be implemented.

The humanitarian crisis in Niger State is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent civilians. It is imperative that the government takes immediate action to address the situation and provide support to the displaced persons.