AFRICA/NIGERIA – Appeal from the Bishop of Kontagora: “Mr. President, a military base must be established immediately in the area where the children from the school in Papiri were kidnapped”

Abuja – “Mr. President, this is a desperate appeal to you to put an end to the relentless attacks against the population living in the local administrative areas of Agwara and Borgu, both located in the Emirate of Borgu.” In a video released on social media, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora, President of the Niger State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria , urged Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a military base in the Agwara local administrative area.
This is the area where, on November 21, 265 students from St. Mary’s Catholic primary and secondary school in the community of Papiri were kidnapped by armed bandits .
In addition to the video, Msgr. Yohanna reiterated his request for a greater military presence in a statement shared with Fides. “Our people are helpless and we are crying for help,” the text reads. “This is a passionate appeal to you to finally curb the incessant attacks in Agwara local government area of Niger state. We want you to beef up security in Agwara and especially in Papiri town where we have the St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary schools which serves over fifty communities in Agwara and Borgu LGAs by establishing a military base that will ensure security presence at all times.”
“Agwara and Borgu LGAS have always been peaceful areas where anyone could travel at anytime and return safely until men of the underworld infiltrated our communities,” the Bishop of Kontagora emphasized. However, today, “the insecurity challenge has continued to cripple education, agriculture and community life as these terrorists now move freely. They roam about freely both at night and day without being challenged.”
In his appeal to the Nigerian president, Bishop Yohanna stated that “these terrorists are gradually turning Borgu Kingdom into what I can call “Terrorists Kingdom” by killing our people at free will, forcing others to flee, and compelling some to become their informants and If the insecurity challenge is not tackled urgently, very soon our farmers who are traditionally known as the “Breadbasket of the Northwest, could soon become dependent on Government’s relief,” the bishop warned. Among the requests submitted by Bishop Yohanna are: to establish a fully equipped military base in Agwara LGA that will include a mobile and armoured detachment capable of pursuing and neutralising armed groups whenever they emerge from their hideouts in the game reserve; to deploy adequate security personnel, provide necessary resources, and work with local stakeholders to restore peace; to fortify Police station and checkpoints without delays; and posting of more Policemen to the Police station and Agwara LGA in general with vehicular mobility.
Niger State is just one of the 36 states in the Nigerian Federation affected by violence from armed gangs and jihadist groups. On February 7, three people were killed and eleven others kidnapped during an attack on the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Karku, in the Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in the northwest of the country. Among those kidnapped, according to the Diocese of Kafanchan, is the parish priest, Father Nathaniel Asuwaye .

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