Niger State, North Central Nigeria is one the worst hit by terror groups that operate as kidnappers,bandits and armed robbers.
The activities of these groups have turned the state into a lawless environment where might is right. Almost everyone in Niger State, whether living or passing through is victim in one way or the other.
The civilian population, the military comprising the army, sir force and the navy, the paramilitaries of the police, the civil defence etc have bitter stories to tell about their experiences.
In fact Niger State is only breathing but groaning under a terrable situation and a very bleak future
It was reported that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu lamenting the continued closure of 400 schools and forcing 11,113 students out school due to banditry in parts of Niger state saying its unacceptable.
She therefore directed that they go back to school immediately.
The Minister stated this, on Friday, while addressing the Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) camp at Central Primary School Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger state.
She said, “We have seen a couple of things, the living conditions of people and how poor they are in the IDPs Camp. The banditry has led to displacement of Nigerians and over 400 schools are shut down in the state which has made 11, 113 children to be out of school. This situation is completely unacceptable.”
She explained that it is more sustainable to ensure security is back to every community across the state to bring back peace in these areas and have the people go back to their places.
She said that the federal government is considering options of providing a resettlement city in the interim where IDPs can resettle and vacate these schools premises for our children to come back to school.
“Having our of school children out of school is not okay for Nigeria. Education is foundational and if we must fight poverty, we must return our children back to school because that is the key and the beginning of ending the circle of poverty. So, we will do all we can so that we can move out of the schools where we are presently staying so that education can go on”, she said.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Niger state, Ahmed Baba Suleiman Yumu, said that 29,774 people have been displaced by bandits in the state, comprising of 7650 women, 3201 men and 11,113 out of school children in addition to 108 people with special needs.
