Displacement Crisis Deepens as 500,000 Niger Residents Scatter Across Kogi, Other States
Minna, Nigeria — Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago of Niger State has disclosed that no fewer than 500,000 residents displaced by insecurity are currently scattered across Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and parts of the Benin Republic.
The governor made this known during the Presidential initiative for the distribution of food items, nutritional support, and medical supplies to vulnerable persons affected by the humanitarian crisis in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
Bago explained that the scale of displacement reflects the severity of insecurity affecting communities in Niger State, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes in search of safety across neighbouring states and even beyond Nigeria’s borders.
He assured that the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and development partners, is intensifying efforts to facilitate the safe return of the displaced persons to their communities and reunite them with their families.
The governor further revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the National Park located in Borgu be cleared and made habitable to accommodate security personnel as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity in the area.
According to him, the move is expected to strengthen security presence and restore confidence among residents, thereby creating conditions necessary for displaced persons to return home.
In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu, Mohammed Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, commended the governor for his leadership and commitment to addressing the plight of affected communities.
The monarch described Bago as a leader who has consistently demonstrated concern for the welfare of his people, particularly in the face of ongoing humanitarian challenges.
The revelation underscores the growing humanitarian burden posed by insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, with neighbouring states such as Kogi and Kwara now hosting significant numbers of displaced persons.