Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has declared that his administration will neither negotiate with bandits nor pay ransom to kidnappers, urging residents instead to take proactive steps to defend themselves against attacks.
The governor made the declaration during a visit to Rijau and Magama local government areas, which recently came under violent attacks by armed groups operating around Kontagora.
According to him, the worsening security situation demands collective resistance rather than dependence on ransom payments or negotiations.
“The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business,” Bago said.
“I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people. The situation has reached a state of war that requires collective resistance.
“We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up. The constitution gives us the right to defend our lives and property, and we will do just that. There is no going back.”
Describing the repeated invasions and displacement of communities as “embarrassing and unacceptable,” the governor announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 personnel into the Joint Task Force (JTF) to bolster community-level security operations across the state.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, the governor also declared a total ban on all mining activities within Zone C of the state — covering Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara local government areas.
Bago said illegal mining has become one of the leading triggers of insecurity in the region, enabling criminals to move freely through forested zones while residents remain vulnerable to attack.
“It is suspicious that miners can enter the forests freely, yet the bandits don’t touch them. I have now ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to arrest anyone caught engaging in mining activities,” he stated.
The governor assured victims of recent assaults that his administration would extend full support — including compensation for families of those killed, medical care for the injured, and economic relief for those who lost their livelihoods.
Bago reaffirmed his commitment to restoring peace in Niger State, insisting that only a united, courageous citizenry can help defeat the wave of criminality threatening rural communities.
