Villagers Sign Peace Deals with Bandits in Niger

By Laleye Dipo

It was a case of the last resort, as several villagers yesterday reportedly signed peace deals with bandits in three wards of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

In Manta ward, villagers in 22 villages were said to have signed the ‘Peace Accord’, while people in 29 villages in Gurmana ward initialed the agreement just as villagers in 15 villages in Bassa/kukoki ward entered into agreement with the bandits.

THISDAY learnt that the peace deal entailed the release of huge sums of money and Honda motorcycles to the bandits while the insurgents in turn promised not to attack the villagers.

It was gathered that since the agreements between the villagers and the bandits were signed, as the raids on the villages have stopped, thereby creating an atmosphere of peace for the people to carry on with their normal lives.

“In fact for more than two weeks now, there has been no attack on any of the communities that signed the peace deal with the bandits,” the Co-convener of the Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Yussuf Kokki, told THISDAY on the telephone.

Kokki said following the agreement, many villagers who deserted the affected areas, have started returning and have begun their farming and other activities.

He said: “The government is not involved in the whole matter, but I know that they (government) are aware of it.

“Virtually, all communities and villages in Gurmana and Manta districts of Shiroro LGA have negotiated with the terrorists for a ceasefire after reaching agreement to pay certain amount of money among other conditions, including purchasing Honda motorcycles for them.”

He said some communities and villages in Bassa/Kukoki ward have followed suit by agreeing to pay certain amount of money among other things to the terrorists to make them (the terrorists) suspend their nefarious activities in the area.

Kokki claimed that the villages/villagers, who have already sealed the deal for ceasefire with the terrorists are currently reaping its benefits, others are on the verge of finalising theirs too.”

Defending their action, the youth leader said: “The affected victims have been forced to find solutions for themselves within since the much anticipated intervention from government was not forthcoming.”

He also stated that contrary to claims by the military “we don’t have any security presence in this area.”

Contacted on the issue in an earlier interview, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, had told THISDAY that “The government is not aware of this, but since you have brought it to our notice, we will investigate it and take action.”