Taiwo Popoola
The Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) has appealed to the federal government to redeploy a military base to Alawa, Shiroro LGA, Niger State due to escalating insecurity, killings, and displacement following the military’s withdrawal.
They made this appeal during a press briefing in Minna, emphasising the need for prompt action to restore security and protect lives in the area.
Speaking, the Secretary of the coalition, Saidu Salihu, said due to the withdrawal of the military, there has been a continued escalation of insecurity leading to brutal killing and displacement of people.
According to him: ” The redeployment will enable the communities to return to their fatherland. Currently, our homes and farmlands have been occupied by the bandits who are using the captives to work on the farmlands for them.”
He called on the state government to intensify efforts in tackling insecurity in the council and other affected areas to ensure the success of its agricultural transformation initiative.
The COSA Secretary further urged the government to provide necessary support to the local vigilantes in terms of training, equipment and financial resources for effective and efficient service delivery.
Also, the chairman of the Shiroro Elders Forum, Professor Mohammed Bashar Nuhu, assured of the community’s cooperation with the security agencies and governments to end the menace while calling for military redeployment to the area.
He explained that the community has witnessed over 10 decades of setbacks due to the ongoing insecurity facing the areas while attributing the development to a conspiracy to perpetrate ethnic cleansing and ensure poverty thrives in the area.
