Terrorists now in full control of Kainji National Park — Niger State lawmaker laments after escaping assassination attempt

Member representing Borgu/Agwara Federal Constituency of Niger State, Jafaru Mohammad Ali on Wednesday raised the alarm that Kainji National Park, once a hub of Nigeria’s wildlife and tourism, has now become a stronghold for terrorists and demanded for an immediate military intervention to save the Constituency from the daily dastardly act of the daring bandits 

Addressing newsmen after the House adopted his motion under Matters of Urgent Public Importance, the  visibly disturbed Lawmaker also made a passionate plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene before the crisis escalates further.

The lawmaker who was recently brutally attacked by the bandits lamented that terrorists have fully taken over the control of the park, displacing rangers, seizing administrative offices, and converting tourist facilities into operational bases. 

“Nobody can enter the park anymore, the  National Park has become a haven for terrorists, residents are being displaced, forced to compromise, or k!lled,” he said. 

“If urgent action is not taken, the entire constituency risks total domination by these criminals, they operate openly unchallenged.”

He lamented  that the park, which straddles multiple states, was now being used as a launchpad for attacks on Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara States, as well as neighbouring Benin Republic.

“Many of the terrorists are foreign fighters moving through interconnected forest reserves to strengthen their hold on the region.”

The Lawmaker cited several recent attacks linked to the park’s takeover, including the November 21 abduction of 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of the state; the November 4 ambush on his convoy, and the November 2 k!llings at Gidan Guga.

Ali urged the House to direct the Chief of Defence Staff to deploy well-equipped troops and establish Forward Operating Bases in strategic communities, including Lumma, Audu Fari, Agwara, and Mago.

The Lawmaker also called on NEMA and the Refugee Commission to assist displaced residents and for NALDA and the Agriculture Ministry to transform the park into a secure agricultural zone once cleared.

Highlighting the severity of the crisis, he recalled narrowly escaping an ambush by the terrorists along the Lumma–Babanna road last Tuesday, which left one soldier and six others d3ad.

While calling for the immediate and direct intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the father of the nation and the longstanding ties between the Borgu Emirate and him, he warned that neglect could deepen the suffering of residents.

“We supported him. We won all the polling units for him. We don’t want anything from him—only peace in our communities,” he concluded.

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