Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has taken a firm stand against paying ransom or negotiating with bandits, saying the time has come for residents to defend themselves and their communities from relentless attacks.
Bago made the declaration during a visit to Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas, where several villages were recently attacked by armed groups.
The governor said ransom payments only encourage more kidnappings, turning the crime into a profitable business.
“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,” he 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,” Bago added.
He urged residents to take advantage of their constitutional right to defend their lives and property, insisting that surrendering to fear would only embolden the attackers.
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Describing the frequent invasions of communities as “embarrassing and unacceptable,” Bago announced plans to recruit and train 10,000 personnel into a Joint Task Force (JTF) to bolster security across the state.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, revealed that the governor had also banned all mining activities in Zone C, covering eight local government areas, including Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara.
Bago said illegal mining was fuelling insecurity, noting that miners often accessed forests freely while residents faced deadly raids.
He directed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to arrest anyone found mining in the affected areas.
The governor assured victims of recent attacks of immediate support, including compensation for bereaved families, treatment for the injured, and aid for those who lost their homes or livelihoods.