Boko Haram has allegedly taken over communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the report, the insurgents who ordered residents of the communities not to recognize any
constituted authority also told them to marry off their daughters at the age of 12.
A resident of the area and Co-Convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Bello Ibrahim spoke to the newsmen.
He Said:
“At a time, they were in Kawure, the village of former Senator Representing Niger East, David Umaru.
“But there was an operation to dislodge them by the joint military task force.
Fortunately, they left the said area but came back since the stationing of the military base was not there, he further explained.
“So now, they are not only in Kawure, but they have also extended their tentacles to Communities like Kuregbe, Awulo, and host of other Communities.
In Awulo and Kuregbe Communities, in the assembly of the locals, both Muslims and Christians, they made a marching order of marrying off any girl that is 12 years old and above.
“There is no any form of law in the area, aside from Boko Haram’s… If locals have any feud, either Family issue or community problem, they report to them for resolution.
“No any case should be reported to police or court or any constituted authority for resolution.”
Another resident alleged that the insurgents operate freely in the communities without being challenged.
He also said;
“They have become constituted authority in those villages. And Kawure, Awulo and Kuregbe are their operational grounds. They coerce locals to obey them as their authority.
“In the entire Chukuba and Kuregbe ward, it is Boko Haram elements that are operating there not bandits that we know.”
Chairman of Shiroro Local Government, Suleiman Chukuba also confirmed the influx of Boko Haram elements, and further added that the residents were made to believe that they were Boko Haram elements because of their mode of preaching.
On the issue of influx of Boko Haram in shiroro, it affects four wards only.
“They told villagers that they have money to help them and that they have guns to give them to fight Government. And that is the same doctrine we know Boko Haram elements promote.”
Residents of the area however denied the claim, saying the insurgents have only coerced villagers into not reporting any case or feud to police or court and fixed marital age for girls.
By Taiyelolu A
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