Worried by the recent escalation in bandits’ attacks on some communities across Kontagora Emirate, in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State, critical stakeholders, including the Emirate Council, have agreed to convene an emergency security summit to come up with a workable solution towards addressing the growing level of security challenges confronting the area.
In recent times, all the local government areas within the Emirate Council, comprising Kontagora, Mariga, Magama, Rijau, Wushishi and Mashegun, are bedevilled with frequent attacks from gunmen suspected to be bandits, and this has made lives miserable for the people, particularly farmers who have been forced to abandon their farms and homes.
Worst hit are communities in Mariga Local Government Area, where the armed bandits recently launched attacks on two military camps at Gulbin Boka and Kwanan Dutse, killing no fewer than 20 soldiers, and injuring scores.
In a similar vein, some members of these communities were caught in the crossfire while a number of the bandits were also neutralised during the encounter with the soldiers.
The convener of the summit, tagged ‘First Kontagora Emirate Security Engagement and Town Hall Meeting,’ and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulamlik Sarkindaji, in a statement in Minna on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, explained that the need for the security summit had become necessary since all conventional approaches to addressing the security challenges within the emirate were not yielding the desired results.
Sarkindaji had stressed that while the security agents battle to curtail the onslaught by “these enemies of the people,” the situation continue to escalate, leading to the killing of promising Nigerian soldiers and innocent villagers, adding that “this cannot continue, as a people we must come together to agree on the way forward.”
The speaker added, “These criminals are not magicians, they are human beings like us.
“This situation must be confronted so that our people, especially farmers, can enjoy some level of peace.
“The esteemed sons and daughters of Kontagora Emirate cannot fold their hands and allow these animals, disguising themselves as human beings, to kill our people, our security agents, and make lives meaningless for the entire population”, he emphasised.
Abdulmalik stated that the security challenge affects everyone living in the entire emirate, advising stakeholders to participate in the summit as their presence and contributions are crucial in finding lasting solutions.
The speaker also hinted that the summit, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Emir’s Palace Kontagora, will have in attendance, all former and present senators, all former and present House of Representatives members, all present State House of Assembly members, present commissioners, present local government council chairmen, present director generals and special advisers.
Others he disclosed include all retired military officers from the rank of Lieutenant, all DIGs and AIGs of Police, all former and present commissioners of police, all present councillors and other top dignitaries who are sons and daughters from the emirate.
He added further that “the meeting will serve as a platform for us to come together, share insights and collaborate on strategies to adopt to combat the security challenges and ensure the safety and well-being of our communities.”
While acknowledging the efforts of the state government towards addressing the challenge with a number of strategies adopted by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in the last two years, he maintained that the issues of security are a collective responsibility, hence the need for every hand to be on deck.
