The Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) has made a passionate plea to the federal government of Nigeria to redeploy military personnel to the troubled Lakpma axis of Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State. The call follows a surge in violent attacks by bandits, leaving many dead, displaced, and forced to seek refuge in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Addressing a world press conference in Minna on Thursday, COSA Secretary Comrade Sa’idu Salisu expressed deep concern over the worsening insecurity in Shiroro, stating that the ongoing violence has left their people defenseless. “It is disheartening to witness our kinsmen being killed mercilessly while others are displaced, left with no means of livelihood,” he said.
Comrade Salisu emphasized that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. He urged the federal government to act swiftly by redeploying military forces to Shiroro and other areas in Niger State grappling with insecurity. “Our people must not continue to die needlessly. The government must intervene immediately,” he stressed.
The Coalition condemned the recent withdrawal of military personnel from Allawa, a decision made at the height of the security crisis in the region. While expressing condolences to the Nigerian military for the loss of officers in an ambush in Allawa, COSA also commended the army's efforts in safeguarding the community over the years. However, the group criticized the timing of the military’s exit, calling it both "discomforting and heart-rending."
“It is contrary to Section 47 of the Armed Forces Act that, in the midst of a security crisis, the Nigerian Army withdrew its troops from Allawa without notice, leaving the inhabitants at the mercy of terrorists,” Salisu added.
He explained that residents of the Lakpma axis had relied heavily on military presence for protection. Since the withdrawal, the community has been left vulnerable, leading to a mass exodus of people from the area. The group urged the federal government to not only redeploy military personnel but also compensate residents for the loss of property and livelihoods caused by the withdrawal.
Adding to the call, Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu, former Commissioner for Tertiary Education and a prominent member of the Shiroro Stakeholders Forum, voiced frustration over the federal government’s perceived indifference toward their plight. He expressed feelings of abandonment and neglect, questioning why a military base could not be established in Allawa despite its significance to the region’s agricultural development and food security.
"If the military could be deployed to Sokoto for an incident there, why can't we have a similar presence in Allawa? This region is crucial for Nigeria’s agricultural progress, yet it remains abandoned,” Prof. Nuhu lamented. He further accused the government of sidelining the area, citing the long-abandoned road project from Pandogari to Allawa, first awarded during the Shagari era.
In a final plea, Prof. Nuhu questioned whether the people of Shiroro were being treated as “slaves in Nigeria,” stating that numerous quiet appeals and written requests had gone unanswered. He also highlighted the dire conditions in the IDP camps, where displaced residents were living in unhygienic environments without access to basic necessities.
Both COSA and the Shiroro Stakeholders Forum called for immediate action from the federal and state governments, not only to address the growing security crisis but also to improve the living conditions of displaced persons and restore the region’s potential as a center for agricultural development.