By Martha Agas and Rita Iliya
The Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights Advocacy, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO, has called for urgent action to address rising insecurity in rural communities in Niger and other northern states.
The organisation made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of its 98th State Executive Council meeting, Niger Chapter in Minna.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Niger Chapter, Dr Abdullahi Jabi, and the Secretary-General, Abdulwaheed Adeniran, and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
The CSO urged the Niger state Government as well as the Federal Government to act swiftly to curb rising kidnapping and banditry in rural communities in the state.
It expressed concern that the situation had caused widespread displacement of residents in the affected areas and disrupted socio-economic activities, contrary to the present administration’s pledge to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians.
The organisation sympathised with victims of insecurity in the local government areas of Agwara, Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro and Rijau, describing the situation as an “unfortunate development” that displaced communities from their ancestral homes.
It appealed to the state government to urgently intervene by providing moral and financial support to the affected victims.
“The yearnings of the Niger people need to be met based on the political promise of the APC-led government to ensure public confidence in the administration and political stability, as we move towards the 2027 General Election,” it stated.
It, however, commended the Federal Government’s efforts in addressing insecurity by seeking the U.S. technical support to tackle banditry and restore national security.
The CSO said that Niger residents were anticipating more dividends of democracy from the current administration and recommended enhanced measures to promote accountability and prudent management of resources by some governors to justify large allocations to their states.
It decried the poor services of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in Niger, particularly its failure to provide constant and adequate electricity to the residents of Niger.
It said that the situation had contributed to rising criminal activities, including armed robbery, phone snatching and the assault of innocent girls on the streets of Minna.
“We therefore resolve to mobilise the people for a peaceful protest to the AEDC management office to redress shortage of electricity supply to boost socio-economic activity,” it said.
The CSO also urged the government to address the plight of pensioners at both local and state levels by ensuring prompt payment of their benefits, which could reduce the rising number of deaths among them.
