The Niger State Government has issued a warning regarding the presence of terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the state’s Borgu Local Government Area.
This is in addition to statements made by the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, that Boko Haram is present in sections of Shiroro, where it has taken over 500 communities.
The organization is responsible for the kidnapping of the Dodo of Wawa, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, who announced during a news conference in Minna, the state capital.
He revealed that members of the gang are currently attempting to create a caliphate in the council’s Kainji National Park.
Members of the cult said they were not bandits, but were sent by God to the area to indoctrinate the locals with their ideas, according to him.
“They stated that they are not bandits, but that they are planning to establish a Kalipha in Kainji National Park. They said they were not bandits, but rather God’s messengers, and that they operate from the Niger-Benin-Nigeria border. Even though the Benin Republic has closed its borders, the ISWAP is operating on the outskirts, attempting to indoctrinate people to accept their teachings and ignore what the government is doing, according to Matane.
The SSG also revealed that both groups preach against education in communities and encourage parents not to send their children/wards to school.
He also said that to combat insecurity in Niger State, the state government had purchased a total of 100 vehicles and reconditioned another 70 for security agencies.