Bandits occupy Kainji National Park, Customs checkpoint

Bandits have established a camp at the Kainji National Park in the New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Residents said the bandits took over the reserve and disrupted economic activities in the communities.

A resident of New Bussa, Aliyu Madami, said the bandits had forced staff of the National Park to abandon their duty post after continuous attacks in the area.

He said the activities of the bandits had forced residents in New Bussa and its environs to abandon their farms and other business activities.

Madami added that over 200 gunmen had converted the game reserve to their camp, forcing staff of the game reserve, including forest guards, to abandon the reserve for their safety.

“They now live in the park and it is from there that they come out to attack travellers along the busy Wawa-Luma highway, connecting Benin Republic.

“Even the Nigerian Customs Service checkpoint Wawa-Babana has been abandoned by Customs officers as a result of the activities of the bandits.

“On Tuesday, the bandits attacked a commercial Sharon bus along the Wawa-Luma Road and kidnapped the entire passengers in the bus, including the driver,” Madami said.

When contacted, the Vice Chairman of Borgu LGA, Mallam Abdullahi Nasir, confirmed the development, describing it as “very worrisome and disturbing.”

Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, were unsuccessful as his mobile line indicated that it was switched and a text message sent to him was not replied to.