Lawmaker representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency of Niger State,
Jafaru Ali, has urged the Federal Government to redouble its efforts to address the growing menace of banditry in his constituency, which has claimed many lives and displaced many more.
He also called on President Bola Tinubu as the traditional title holder of Jagaban Borgu to take drastic action against the bandits operating in Borgu Emirate.
Ali made the call while briefing journalists on the recent attack on his convoy, the kidnapping of the over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area and other incidences.
The lawmaker who also raised concern over the insecurity bedeviling his constituency during the resumed Special Plenary on Tuesday stated that, notable public figures, such as the former SUBEB Chairman, Niger State; Niger State Electoral Commissioner and dozens of travellers who were kidnapped along Mokwa to New-Bussa road and are still in captivity.
He said, “With great dismay, on 21st of November, 2025, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and kidnapped three hundred and three (303) students, twelve (12) teachers and a notable figure, Sarkin Samarin Agwara.Fifty (50) out of the three hundred and three students escaped and are reunited with their parents.
“Also on 4th November, 2025, during my routine condolence visit in my constituency, I was attacked by armed gunmen in their hundreds which resulted in loss of lives and injuries to many innocent personnel at Agwara to Babanna in Borgu Local Government, Niger State”.
Ali however appreciated the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army for their quick response and providing helicopter for evacuation from where he and his entourage were trapped during the attack.
The lawmaker added that, three people were killed in a family compound on 2nd November, 2025 at Gidan Guga bordering Agwara and Borgu, while their father was injured and currently in Usman DanFodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
According to him, many villages and towns that were displaced include Boyiya, Bakin Bara to mention but a few while Aika, Kuka, Dekara, Kerenji, Saminaka and Audu Fari were fully dominated by bandits.
He said, “The bandits are currently using the National Park as their harbour and base from where they attack Agwara, Borgu in Niger State, Bagudo and Shanga in Kebbi State, Kaiama/Baruten in Kwara State and some neighbouring communities in Benin Republic.
“Most of the bandits are foreigners who cannot even speak Nigerian languages.Some of them migrated from Zamfara and Katsina using Ibbi National Park as their link to enter Kaiama National Park and Kainji National Park as their destination.
“About a month ago, the bandits had laid ambush and bombed four personnel between Babanna and Lumma, while the last two months witnessed recurring killings, kidnappings and displacement in the entire Federal Constituency, including the public one in the police station at Lumma where a leader of the Fulani clan was assassinated in broad daylight because of his failure to compromise.
“The situation in the entire Federal Constituency is horrible and will continue to worsen if urgent action is not taken to save the constituency from being taken over by bandits in the next few months”.
The lawmaker warned that, as a result of the helplessness of his people, many are being compromised and succumbing to the pressure from the bandits in order to survive.He noted that, the development is worrying as people compromise to save their lives because of fear of attacks or retribution from the bandits.
