₦airaland Forum

…Vows never to negotiate or pay ransom to bandits
…Ban mining activities in 8 LGAs

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnapped victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks.

The governor made the disclosure, when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora.

The governor said: “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.


“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 as “embarrassing and unacceptable” the frequent invasions of communities and the displacement of residents, Bago announced plans by his administration to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force, JTF, to help restore security across the state.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, said the governor has also declared a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state, covering eight local government areas of Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu and Agwara.

He said: “Illegal mining has become one of the major drivers of insecurity in the area, with miners often accessing forest zones unharmed while residents suffer repeated attacks.


“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.”


The governor assured victims of recent attacks that his administration would provide support, including compensation for families of those killed, medical treatment for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their sources of livelihood.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/insecurity-defend-yourselves-gov-bago-charges-niger-residents/

The same thing that Nnamdi Kanu preached.

Is that not why idiots are calling for Nnamdi Kanu's head?
The right to self defense is enshrined inbthe constitution. Since the authorities seems to be in bed with the bandits, defend yourselves.

Good...make I go find money for my ak47 first.

Lol... Trust the Army or police to put out a statement soon concerning this.

Anything that has to do with defending yourself in this country will not work.

I love this man...

Please who is he... Such a person I would vote for as president when it's rotate back to the north!

The army of repented terrorists will still come and disarm the indigenous people thereby creating a passage for their unrepented brothers to come unleash terror.

Nnamdi Kanu is in detention because he foiled the jihadist plot in guise of ruga settlement

immortalcrown:
The same thing that Kanu preached.

Please, PROPHET Kanu.







Nex time you want to refer to him

Defending themselves with what? Oga supply them guns.

Solid governor.





Correct man

If you want the governor to stop sounding like he has given up, then tinubu should fund the police properly.

Because the amount we budget for police is scanty. One tenth of NYPD budget, and you expect NYPD response?

At some point , you got to accept that the problem with apc is they ain't making money for Nigeria

Well done Governor.
Empower your people to take on these animals. Establish an organised state backed framework and turn the heat on these criminals too. Once they are put on the defensive, they can not hold on for long before disintegrating.

How on earth will you be negotiating with terrorists as being done in the core north. It is absurd and it gives a sense of collusion with the bandits.

But if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu say it,it becomes a crime.


And double standard people hailing this one will be like, kill Nnamdi Kanu, kill Nnamdi Kanu.

This is what Nnamdi Kanu said ooo.

Creating a self help group to defend yourself against Foreign invaders who kill and kidnap you is NOT a crime.

This is a Governor saying the same thing now oooo!!

But people with wickedness embedded in their DNA are calling for Nnamdi Kanus head because he said the obvious truth and facts. What is beautiful is that everyone witnessed the people gaslighting the case and throwing baseless tantrums everyday about Nnamdi Kanu, but keep mute when the same happens via Sunday IGBOHO or even the 'Rambo' in Northern NIGERIA who has annexed areas for himself and is having peace talks with the said GOVERNMENT oooo!!!

The fact that those that celebrate gifts of useless cows and rams during Sallah from their so called leaders because of political patronage will have this same issues to contend with and these same leaders asking 'where are the cows' will be insulated from the bloodletting.

Continue being myopic and thinking that your useless 1 NIGERIA favours you for now.

Nonsense

The rise is banditry is because of this so called negotiation

Because of this clowns wake up and decide to give themselves funny names and begin to cause mayhem

The day communities decide to arm themselves is the day insecurities will stop. Monies raised for ransom payment should instead be used for arms aquisition.

If bandits and terrorists knows that communities are armed like themselves,they would think twice before attacking.

The government is clearly out of their depths in tackling these terrorists,they are either unable or unwilling to provide solutions to these rampant insecurities.

Communities across Nigeria should take note of government incapacity and act accordingly.

immortalcrown:
The same thing that Kanu preached.

Jesus christ! Kanu message was never against bandit bro.

Do you want me to upload some of Kanu reckless radio and vidoe outburst here where he charged the SE to go and burn down Lagos, asking them to kill any police and army, calling SW animals? Pls is Lagos bandit land? Are Yoruba bandits?

Kanu was preaching hate, sessionion not mainly defensive against bandit bro. Pls don't mixed it up its two different scenario.

However, why inducing Kanu into this now? Can't you allow Kanu head to rest?

You dey mind the scallywags. A Northern APC Governor has said it and they are quiet.

Olanikpekun talked of referendum and they are still quiet.

But an IGBO man says it it's a crime.

What I am happy about is that NOBODY can change those that have been exposed to be the real IGBO haters.

IGBOs must revenge..MUST

chiagozien:
But if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu say it,it becomes a crime.


And double standard people hailing this one will be like, kill Nnamdi Kanu, kill Nnamdi Kanu.

This is the way to go, but when they get arm to defend themselves, the military allegedly disarm them, paving way for the bandits to attack.

There is no Commander-in-Chief
There is noleadership at the Centre

ITS HIGH TIME WE SPLIT THE COUNTRY INTO 5 FOR EFFECTIVE SECURITY MANAGEMENT

Keep quiet and just face your miserable life squarely.

Nnamdi Kanu specifically floated ESN to protect the SE from what? Is it not useless Fulani herdsmen who were killing numerous people then?

When he started engaging Military and police personal, hasn't it been proven that these herdsmen are given Access to perpetuate these actions by the same Military and police?

Why will police arrest people that defend themselves against herdsmen? People where kidnapped in Edo State and the youths rescued the kidnapped victimeyand too the Fulani to the police station. What happened? The same Fulani were given telephones to call their handlers and because they were set free the angered youths descended on the police station and killed the herdsmen who were already indicted in the killings in the area.

As regards statements, ..when the TOUT in NURTW called Mc Oluomo and his successor called SEGO made statements about voting in the same 1 NIGERIA what did you say or do?

Even Northerners are tired of these people. ..but as a Yoruba man, your first position is to hate without trying to be balanced in your opinion.

Let me tell you this ...

Una don cast..and there is no narrative that will sway IGBOs going forward concerning your sophisticated reptilian behavior.

Treachery has payback..and it must happen.

Jayhome24:
Jesus christ! Kanu message was never against bandit bro.

Do you want me to upload some of Kanu reckless radio and vidoe outburst here where he charged the SE to go and burn down Lagos, asking them to kill any police and army, calling SW animals? Pls is Lagos bandit land? Are Yoruba bandits?

Kanu was preaching hate, sessionion not mainly defensive against bandit bro. Pls don't mixed it up its two different scenario.

However, why inducing Kanu into this now? Can't you allow Kanu head to rest?

Jayhome24:
Jesus christ! Kanu message was never against bandit bro.

Do you want me to upload some of Kanu reckless radio and vidoe outburst here where he charged the SE to go and burn down Lagos, asking them to kill any police and army, calling SW animals? Pls is Lagos bandit land? Are Yoruba bandits?

Kanu was preaching hate, sessionion not mainly defensive against bandit bro. Pls don't mixed it up its two different scenario.

However, why inducing Kanu into this now? Can't you allow Kanu head to rest?

Don't mind these lawless people. Every national issue they wish to warp in desperation to proclaim Kanu innocent.

Same Kanu who was dishing out hate speech against other Nigerins daily on radio Biafra and inciting death murder, violence, chaos etal everywhere.

Is it a surprise the SE is in the state it is today given the unreasobable, anarchic, lawless and irresponsible reasoning of the average Igbo?

Becaus Kanu is their Kinsmen they want him freed when he has committed far more atrocities than Ekpa serving 5 years jail term in Finland.

They are not even begging for clemency for Kanu. Instesd they are arrogantly insisting he is innocent.

Walahi, regional autonomy cannot come soon enough because 'one Nigeria' is hiding how completely unhinged and all shades of wrong some people are.

bigpicture001:
I love this man...

Please who is he... Such a person I would vote for as president when it's rotate back to the north!

..you like a man that tells his people he cannot secure their lives.. that they should secure your lives by themselves..but during the 2023 election the same governor promised his people that he will secure their lives and properties

Is this what he told them during the 2023 election campaign ? .. nawaaooo

There are second and third order effects of arming citizens that nobody can predict.

I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there

maiunguwar:
The day communities decide to arm themselves is the day insecurities will stop. Monies raised for ransom payment should instead be used for arms aquisition.

If bandits and terrorists knows that communities are armed like themselves,they would think twice before attacking.

The government is clearly out of their depths in tackling these terrorists,they are either unable or unwilling to provide solutions to these rampant insecurities.

Communities across Nigeria should take note of government incapacity and act accordingly.

Nnamdi kanu said same and was labeled an outlaw

ufotunang:
..you like a man that tells his people he cannot secure their lives.. that they should secure your lives by themselves..but during the 2023 election the same governor promised his people that he will secure their lives and properties

You and your co-travellers are always full of lies and mischief to use against those you dislike. I am sure that is why you conveniently 'missed' the pledge of the Governor below that is a direct solution response to the problem.

Describing as “embarrassing and unacceptable” the frequent invasions of communities and the displacement of residents, Bago announced plans by his administration to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force, JTF, to help restore security across the state.