We Know Cause Of Banditry In Niger State And What To Do- AIG Ben Igweh Tells THE WHISTLER
8 months ago 6 min read
…Counter-Criminal Operations On The Way
…Residents Decry Growing Number Of Displaced Persons
After a successful spell as the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Benneth Igweh, now Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 7, has given terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements in Niger and surrounding states notice to quit or face the wrath of the police.
The AIG spoke in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, following his appointment as AIG Zone 7, which now saddles him with the management of the security architecture of the FCT and Niger State.
AIG Igweh, who drove bandits out of the FCT, expressed his delight to manage the security of the Zone, particularly one involving a state that has recorded a proliferation of terrorist operations, banditry, illegal mining and cattle rustling among others.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, no fewer than 537 residents were reportedly killed by non-state actors, according to a security and consulting Tink Tank, SBM Intelligence.
The data analysed by THE WHISTLER further showed that 48 incidents of crime were recorded in the state within the period leading to the kidnapping of no less than 689 residents.
The AIG said he is poised to decimate these terror perpetrators and restore peace and tranquillity like he had done in the FCT between February and September 2024, when he was police commissioner.
He said, “I know Niger State and FCT very well and operationally, I am happy I am in Zone 7.
“Before being AIG Zone 7, I have been working in Niger as well as Kaduna State. I am equally in charge of the Kaduna operational Army. I have been working on these two states as CP FCT, especially as it regards kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.
“To some extent, I took over some areas in Niger including Gauraka, Lambata, Tafa, Garam, and Madala areas to mention but a few, and I have been working on those areas. So, I am aware of the task in Niger. I know another issue is mining, especially if they are illegal miners.”
There has been an upsurge of illegal mining operations in Niger State. In late August, the Federal Government confirmed the death of 12 miners killed in Unguwar Margo village, a community in the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, and banned all forms of mining operations in the state.
Jibrin Shiroro, a community leader in Allawa, an agrarian community in Shiroro LGA confirmed to THE WHISTLER that most soft and hard target areas where cases of banditry and mining operations have been recorded in the state possess solid mineral resources.
“However, some of these villagers have not been engaging in mining activities, rather illegal miners come in contact with them, abduct them for ransom or forcefully make them mine on their site”, he said, decrying the displacement of the communities in Shiroro and other neighbouring areas which has led to more out-of-school children.
Police To Commence Counter-Criminal Operations In Niger
Confirming the situation, AIG Igweh said, “There are laws in this country that help you deal with illegal miners because we have discovered that one of the causes of banditry is illegal miners who want their sites to be protected by equally illegal security agencies.
“So, they end up bringing in illegal armed men, some of them are bandits and armed robbery. We are aware and are going to dismantle all.”
On September 2, the Minister of Solid Minerals urged anyone involved in illegal mining to comply with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (MNMA) and regularise their operations, while resolving to take decisive action against illegal activities in the country.
Consequently, the police authorities noted its commitment to clamp down on these criminal operations through collaboration with sister security agencies and community engagement in the state.
AIG Igweh said, “The safety we’ve created in Abuja, we shall extend to Niger and all the areas in Kaduna. Over 70 per cent of Abuja borders Niger State, and we are working on it. By next week, I am moving to Niger. I have already planned operations in Niger to ensure safety.
“They have been calling me, and I have assembled reasonable forces, I have a lot of intelligence in Niger and I have informants too. By next week I am moving to Niger. If I operate there for one week, you will see the difference.
“I want to assure Abuja and Niger residence as well as some Kaduna residents that the area will be safe.
“We have succeeded in clearing some places and forests in Kaduna, but now I am going to extend my tentacles and form a team that will enter into Niger to augment the efforts of the policemen in Niger state. I am poise to do that without fear or favour.”
Emphasising the need for collaboration, the police chief said, “We are not going to work in silos, I am going to bring others in. I will work with the soldiers, vigilantes and the DSS because one of the problems is that no one has brought the locals in.
“Some of those hunters are vigilantes of different villages and towns, we have a lot of intelligence, and it is equally the same people that the bandits are using.
“But when you get them on the side of the government and you give them the power to operate with you, they would like it. They would also give us the same information. That is why we are going to Niger.
“We have equally notified a lot of community leaders and they are waiting for us. By next week, we will be in Niger to start community engagement.
“They have to know why we are in Niger and what we have come to do. It is community policing with intelligence. We will share with them what they have, and we will advise them with what we know.”
Addressing perpetrators of crime in the Zone, AIG Igweh said, “We can’t allow them to operate at all. They should start packing before we start operations.
“They can relocate to other areas, however, If they relocate to Kaduna, we will hit them there. If they think illegal security is part of their lives then so be it.”
Concentrate On Hot Spots- Community Leader Urges Police
Anticipating the intervention of the zonal police force, Shiroro called on law enforcement operatives to concentrate on hot spot areas like Shiroro, Rafi and Munya LGAs. He noted that some of the villages in these areas have been taken over by terrorists.
In Allawa for instance, where no fewer than 10 farmers were recently killed, Shiroro said residents had fled their homes which have now been taken over by terrorists in the past six months due to military withdrawal from the community.
“What most of us know how to do best is farming. We are peasant farmers. The situation has led to an increasing number of out-of-school children.
“Economically, we cannot earn a living. There is this report that some of our young girls are now engaged in prostitution so that is the situation we find ourselves in.
“Even with the illegal mining we are experiencing, some of the villagers have never been involved in mining before, but they are forced to because they want to survive.
“You must look for a way to look for food. Like those who were killed recently, two of them were primary school teachers.
“So, if the security operatives are coming to give us security, it is a welcome development and our people are very friendly and are supportive because we need that security presence to return to our homes.”
