Authorities say militants from the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram are planning to build a camp in Niger State.
Ahmed Matane, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), raised the alarm while briefing reporters in Minna, the state capital, on Tuesday.
He lamented the recent increase in bandit attacks on innocent civilians, alleging that they were now coordinating with rebels to exacerbate the state’s security situation.
Matane bemoaned the fact that the militants, who had killed hundreds of thousands of people in the North East over the years, were suspected of being present in two local government districts of the state.
He was concerned that the state was in such a position despite the government’s efforts to protect its inhabitants, which included spending N5 billion to address Niger’s security concerns.
According to intelligence reports obtained by the SSG, bandits have joined forces with terrorists to indoctrinate inhabitants in various Shiroro LGA communities to imbibe strict Islamic philosophy and prohibit women from attending school.
He cited Koki, Madaka, Kurebe, Kusare, and Chukuba as some of the communities targeted by the insurgents, where villagers were promised safety but encouraged to engage in civil disobedience and reject western education.
“These people (Boko Haram) often go to communities to communicate with them (residents) and assure them that they will not harm them, and join them during Friday congregational prayer to preach to them on the need to forsake western education and embark on civil disobedience,” Matane told reporters in his office at the Government House in Minna.
“These are some of the attributes of Boko Haram that are perpetrated in the North East and the Sambisa Forest axis.”
He went on to say that ISWAP fighters were also attempting to build a permanent camp near the Kaiji National Park in Borgu LGA’s Babana Forest.
The insurgents attempted to contact the state government through a video in which they claimed to be God’s messengers sent to install an Islamic government in the area, according to the SSG.
He claimed that insurgents, who have been observed in towns bordering Nigeria and Benin Republic, had begun indoctrinating locals.
“ISWAP is trying to establish a camp at National Park at Babana in Borgu Local government Area of Niger State,” Matane said.
“They also made a video claiming that they are not kidnappers, but engaging in religious activities. They have assured us that they are ‘God sent’ to establish an Islamic caliphate. Despite their rapprochement, we are not negotiating with them.”
Munya, Rafi, Shiroro, Mashegu, and Mariga LGAs, he claims, are the epicenters of kidnappings and banditry, while areas of Lapai LGA are also experiencing security issues.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
