Niger Governor Calls Attack Site ‘Market of Thieves’ Following Terrorist Attack in Borgu

Mohammed Bago, the Governor of Niger State, has labeled Kasuwan Daji, the site of a recent deadly attack that claimed the lives of more than 40 residents, as a "market of thieves."

In his first visit to the locality after the tragic killings attributed to Boko Haram fighters in the Borgu Local Government Area, Governor Bago remarked that the village had grown infamous for trading in stolen cattle prior to the violent incident on January 3.

"This was an assault by a gang that targeted a market where stolen cattle are traded," he stated during his condolence visit to the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Haliru, at his palace in New Bussa.

The governor also instructed the evacuation of communities bordering the now dangerous Kainji Lake National Park to avert what he termed "collateral damage."

According to reports from PREMIUM TIMES, Boko Haram militants, led by Mallam Sadiku, fired a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) into Kasuwan Daji before executing at least 50 residents—predominantly men—and abducting women and children.

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the assault and ordered the mobilization of security forces to apprehend those responsible. In a show of support for the victims, former governor Sani Bello, now a senator for Niger North, contributed ₦10 million.

Since the attack in Kasuwan Daji, adjacent villages—Damala, New Kabe, and Kabe—have also been victims of assaults, resulting in deaths and the destruction of homes and agricultural produce.

In his first address since the atrocious murders, Governor Bago asserted that before the tragic events of January 3, Kasuwan Daji was already notorious for the sale of rustled cattle.

He lamented, "People were slaughtered and murdered in a market square known as Kasuwan Daji. It is, by definition, a marketplace for stolen cattle from the forest. However, the primary concern here should be the loss of life.

The governor accused certain traditional leaders and community heads of permitting outsiders to reside in the area without proper oversight, a negligence he believes has allowed criminals and extremist views to take root in the community.

"The traditional leaders have welcomed newcomers without confirming their origins or reasons for their relocation," he reported.

He expressed grave concern that these newcomers, often armed and with radical ideologies, eventually overpower the local populations.

Bago urged the Borgu Emirate Council and other traditional institutions to cease the acceptance of unidentified settlers without extensive verification and collaboration with security forces.

“They need to ascertain where these individuals are coming from, why they left their previous homes, and their intentions here,” he warned, emphasizing the necessity for these institutions to collaborate closely with law enforcement to validate identities before anyone is allowed to settle in the region.

The governor also highlighted alarming reports of extremist ideologies being broadcast openly within certain parts of the emirate, stating that some individuals were advancing Boko Haram principles, opposing Western education, and recruiting locals.

He stated that the emirate council has affirmed its commitment to fully cooperate with the state government and security forces in identifying and dismantling such networks.

In response to the governor's comments, local residents voiced strong disagreement with his labeling of Kasuwan Daji as the “market of thieves.”

A displaced farmer from the area, preferring to remain anonymous, asserted, "Kasuwan Daji is simply a village with a market where grains and small livestock are traded."

He went on to explain that the market emerged from historical conflicts between “Borgu natives in Sukumba and the Kambari people of Kasuwan Daji,” asserting, "It’s incorrect to say they engage in selling stolen cattle as claimed by the governor."

Another resident from New Bussa, Bá Sabouke, reinforced this viewpoint, stating that the market had existed for many years. "This is a grains and livestock market. Individuals from across Borgu frequent this market. Why did the governor choose to label it 'market of thieves' without investigating the facts first?" he questioned.

Additionally, a local chief, who holds a traditional title within the emirate and requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking publicly, agreed with the resident’s perspective.

"Instead of his assertion, the governor could argue that the market operates illegally since it does not pay taxes and that the Kambaris disregarded the Borgu Emirate Council's directive to relocate the market to Sukumba," he stated.

He clarified that Kasuwan Daji is recognized for its trade in crops like maize, millet, and groundnuts, alongside livestock such as goats and sheep.