NEWS
270 Niger Polling Units, Inaccessible Due to Banditry-INEC
From Dan Amasingha Minna.
The precarious security situation in Niger State dominated discussion at an Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) stakeholders meeting as 270 polling units in the State may have become inaccessible to voters ahead of 2023 general election due to activities of bandits.
Niger State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sam Egwu confirmed the worrisome security situation in 14 out of the 25 local government areas of the state during the stakeholders meeting in Minna on Monday.
The State Residents Electoral commissioner explained that, the commission was worried by the increasing cases of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and that commission has mapped out strategies to enable them exercise their franchise during the forth coming 2023 general election.
He disclosed that, prior to the 2019 general election the State had a total of 3,186 polling units with the recent additional 1,764 bringing the total polling units in the State to 4, 950 units for easier accessibility to voters.
According to him, the INEC is working inconjuction with the Niger State Emergency Agency towards relocating the IDPs to safe environment to enable them exercise their civil responsibility.
Professor Egwu assured that INEC was committed towards ensuring that all eligible voters are registered ahead of the 2023 polls adding that, all hands will be on deck towards ensuring a hitch free election.
” We have security challenge in14 Local Government Areas, but it is more pronounced in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Areas. INEC in collaboration with NSEMA is working round the clock towards ensuring that IDPs vote in the general election as part of our inclusive policy,” Egwu said.
Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Monday Bawa Kuryas explained that, the State has experienced a lot of security challenges, but security agencies had recently recorded sucesss in the fight against banditry and criminality.
” The State faced a lot of security challenges in seven local government areas, but we have been recording a lot of successes in our fight against banditry and criminality.
“If we maintain the momentum, who knows if the IDPS will return back to their homes,” Kuryas said.
On the level of preparedness of security agencies ahead of the 2023 elections, Kuryas said the police was battle-ready for the polls .
” This year a lot of political activities will kick off since the Electoral Act has been passed, we are ready to go.”
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has alerted the State that about Ninety communities in eight local government areas of the State will be affected by flood in the coming days.The warning is coming on the heels of the devastating effects of the Mokwa flood that claimed over 200 lives.
The Agency however has assured of a coordinated action plan to mitigate the effects of flood disaster on the likely victims from the eight local governments consisting of 90 communities. ”This identified Local Government Areas and communities are clarified under high risk between April and June this year in Niger state.The Agency Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah made this known at the NSEMA 2025 Flood Preparedness and Response Campaign Stakeholders Engagement with the theme: Building Resilience and Capacity for Flood Management held in Minna.Baba Arah who was represented by the Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, Garba Salisu added that between July and September 2025 about 105 communities from 17 local councils will experience very serious flooding while October and November 3 local governments consisting of 15 communities are likely to have a high risk of flooding in the state.Similarly, the DG noted that those local governments and communities prone to moderate flooding in this year include; 13 councils with 87 communities in April/June, 17 local governments with 87 communities in July/September while between October and November 11 local councils and 103 communities will be affected.He stressed that the stakeholder’s engagement is aimed at harmonizing all the action plans by each of the participants to ensure a centralized operation devoid of duplications, adding that over 700 persons have died in various boat mishaps from 2007 to date in the state.He further gave a sectorial effect of flooding this year in Niger state such as, 215 risk schools in education sector, 7 commercial centres, 180,000 hectares of land in agriculture sector, 6 roads and 3 bridges in transportation sector and over 100,000 population.The guest lecturer, Professor Isah Idris of FUT Minna on the topic; Roles of Stakeholders in Disaster and Risk Management, advised that the resolutions reached on the Action Plan will go a long way in assisting to mitigate future occurrence of flood in Niger state.
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Niger State Police Command has busted a dismissed Soldier who led a POS robbing syndicate for impersonation and fraudulent activities in a renewed Crack down on criminality in the State.In a statement issued by Command Public Relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun yesterday said the Command is determined to rid the state of criminal elements.
”Niger State Police Command intensify efforts to curb crime and criminality in the State, the following arrests were recently recorded”He disclosed that on 27th May, 2025 at about 2:30pm, a case of criminal breach of trust, fraud and theft was referred for Police investigation from a magistrate court to Tudun-Wada Div, which was reported by three victims. According to him, on 12th May, 2025 at about 10am, a suspected soldier went to a POS shop around Musa Bello primary school, Bida and deceitfully collected #120,000 from the operator and escaped.He disclosed that, similarly on 23rd May, 2025 at about 9.30am, the same suspect dressed in military camouflage went to a POS attendant at Kataeregi, collected #300,000 and equally escaped, while on 29th May, 2025 at about 4pm, the same situation occurred at a POS point along Mandela road and N50,000 was taken from the victim.The Spokesman said In the course of the investigation, Police detectives of the Division with the aid of technical intelligence arrested one Michael Musa of Mandela road, Minna in connection with the case.During interrogation, the suspect who was arrested in military attire confessed to these incidents, and claimed that he was a soldier, but he was dismissed in 2022 in Benin, Edo State.Similarly, on 26th May, 2025 around 7pm, a report was received at Maje Div that one Ibrahim Sheriff 18yrs of Kuki village Dutsenma, Katsina State and Hamisu Dalhatu 25yrs of Furakirke Sokoto State, both residing in Maje conspired and threatened one Samaila on phone to be kidnapped or pay thirty million naira ransom.The two suspects were trailed with the aid of technical intelligence and they were arrested.”The exhibits recovered include the phone and the SIM card used in making the threat calls. The case is also under investigation.
From Dan Amasingha, MinnaNiger State Governor, Umaru Bago has granted unconditional State pardon to 11 persons sentenced to death by a Minna High court over a communal clash in Lavun local government areas.State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Nasiru Muhammad Muazu announced the pardon in a press briefing at Government house yesterday.
He disclosed that, the Governor exercising his power as contained in section 212 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended decided to grant the convicts state pardon. He said the gesture followed a plea made by the convicts to the State Governor and the office of the Attorney General which forwarded to the State Advisory council on the prerogative of mercy.”After the review by the advice of the council on prerogative of mercy in the state, the Governor decided to grant the pardon on the 28th of May, 2025″He said the Governor decided to act by bringing lasting peace to the lingering communal clashes between Gaba and Anfani communities in Lavun local government area of Niger State.According to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice the Governor had held a series of peace building meetings with the two warring communities before the pardon was granted.”Promises were made by the Governor to both communities to find a lasting solution to the perennial clash, but I can’t disclose the details.”The Eleven pardoned convicts are Mohammed Mohammed, Ndana Alhaji Sheshi, Isah Baba Madu, Mohammed Mohammed Nda Bida, Abubakar Baba Salihu, and Baba Mohammed Shaba.Other beneficiaries are Adamu Mohammed Baba, Haruna Muhammed, Isah Mohammed Alhaji inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Isah.A Minna High court on the 8th February 2022 sentenced eleven members of Anfani community to death by hanging for culpable homicide as a result of a communal clash between Gaba and Anfani communities since 2018.
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