Locate and k!ll them’: Governor Bago to recruit 25,000 youths to fight terrorists, bandits

‘Locate and kill them’: Governor Bago to recruit 25,000 youths to fight terrorists, bandits

Niger State Governor Umar Bago has said that he plans to recruit 25,000 youths to fight the bandits and jihadists terrorising local communities. The governor disclosed this on Wednesday in a video that has now gone viral on social media.

Bago added that the military will train the 1,000 youths who will be recruited in each of the 25 local government areas in the state.

The video showed the governor meeting with local authorities in Kontogora, the headquarters of the northern senatorial district in the state, which has been under constant attacks by terror groups.

According to Premium Times, almost all the eight local government areas in the senatorial district are under terrorists’ control, with Borgu, Magama and Kontogora being the most dangerous areas.

It was also reported that last week, Muslims in the area gathered at an Eid prayer ground to pray for divine intervention as insecurity persists.

Mr Bago, who sympathised with the terrorised communities, said that the recruited youths from the senatorial district will be armed to confront the terrorists.

The governor said the youth will not wait to be attacked. “They will locate them and kill them (the terrorists).”

Bandits have gained ground in many communities in Niger State, including some Northern states, which has made many of the residents abandon their homes and flee. The security situation has become a source of worry for the governors of these states. While some say they are willing to negotiate with the bandits and terrorists, others, like Governor Bago, have rejected the idea of negotiating.