The Niger State governor, Umaru Bago, has declared a state of emergency over insecurity in the state, following a resurgence of violent activities of thugs in the state capital, Minna.
The governor disclosed this while speaking at a Sallah Durbar festival organised by former governor of the state, Babangida Aliyu, on his farm in Minna.
Mr Bago added that he had ordered security agencies to shoot at sight any thug found threatening the peace within the state.
The governor’s order comes on the heels of the resurgence of the activities of thugs which led to the deaths of two persons and injury to several others on Friday night in Minna.
Mr Bago, who attributed the renewed clashes to the activities of the artisanal miners in the state capital, said he has ordered the closure of all mining sites.
“I declare a state of emergency on a shoot at sight on any thug found within the metropolis and within the state.
”We have zero tolerance for insecurity and thuggery. We have also closed the sites of those artisan miners causing this menace within the state.
“Anybody found there will be shot to death. Those that are sponsoring them will also be dealt with decisively,” Mr Bago said.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the incessant activities of the thugs have led to the suspension of Sallah Durbar in Minna Emirate for the past seven years.
Speaking on the issue, the chairman of Chanchaga local government area l, Aminu Ladan, also linked the fresh crisis to the activities of miners.
He said the violent activities of thugs had forced business owners to temporarily close shops and had also impeded the usual fun fair attributed to the annual festival.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines
