Borgu Residents Flee To Benin Republic As Niger Attacks Persist

Residents in parts of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State are leaving their communities as attacks by armed men continue to disrupt farming, movement and daily life near the border with Benin Republic.

Some villagers have crossed into Benin Republic, while others have abandoned homes and farms after repeated raids. The latest fears followed the abduction of Muslim worshippers during Jumu’at prayers in Dekara, Gidan-Zana and Kpenya on August 21.

Daily Post reported that the police had not confirmed the exact number of abducted worshippers, with residents and community figures giving different accounts. The report said damaged telecommunications infrastructure had made it harder for families to reach relatives in affected communities.

Channels TV reported that Murtala Haliru Dantoro, the African Democratic Congress candidate for Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency, said the area needed a permanent and sustained security presence. He warned that killings, kidnappings, displacement and limits on farming had left communities living under siege.

Dantoro also raised concern over the destruction of a bridge linking Borgu with Benin Republic, Kebbi and Sokoto states, saying the damage had affected trade and movement. Residents said the insecurity had deepened hardship in communities that depend heavily on cross-border routes and farming.

The new displacement concerns come after earlier Borgu abduction reports, but the latest accounts focus on residents leaving their communities and crossing the border as the attacks continue.

Sources: Daily Post, Channels TV