Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on residents of the state to shun tribal bigotry and embrace peaceful coexistence, describing ethnic divisions as a major threat to unity and development.
Bago appealed during a condolence visit to the Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III, where he commiserated with representatives of the Fulani, Boko, Kambari and Barigawa communities following recent communal clashes that claimed several lives.
According to a statement on Sunday by Bologi Ibrahim, the Governor’s spokesperson, Bago described the violence in parts of the Borgu Emirate as unfortunate and shameful, noting that the state was already grappling with security challenges and could not afford further internal conflicts.
The Governor urged all parties to remain calm, stressing that ongoing efforts by the Federal Government had significantly reduced insecurity nationwide and should not be undermined by communal violence.
Bago also sympathized with the Emir and the people of Borgu Kingdom and directed the immediate constitution of a peace and reconciliation committee to identify and address the root causes of the conflict.
He further appealed to residents to obey the law, respect one another’s rights and allow peace to prevail in their communities.
In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu commended the governor for his sustained intervention in the emirate and his commitment to tackling insecurity, saying the efforts had yielded noticeable progress.
The traditional ruler, however, called for intensified measures to restore lasting peace across the kingdom and cautioned against the spread of fake news on social media, warning that misinformation often fuels panic and deepens communal tensions.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, and the member representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, Jafaru Mohammed, urged residents to live in harmony and demonstrate tolerance in line with the teachings of their faiths.
Similarly, the member representing Borgu Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulrahman Gambo, and the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Council, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, praised the governor’s intervention and advocated wider engagement with all affected communities to find lasting solutions to the recurring clashes.
Representatives of the Fulani, Kambari and Boko communities expressed appreciation to the Emir for his fatherly role and commended Governor Bago’s leadership, pledging their commitment to the peace process.
The recent clashes involving Fulani, Kambari, Barigawa and Boko communities in Borgu Emirate have been linked to a cycle of reprisal attacks, resulting in loss of lives and heightened tension across the area.
