Niger attacks: late Emir’s son appeals to President Tinubu to save late friend’s emirate
Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
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The son of the late Emir of Borgu, Murtala Haliru Dantoro, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and safeguard the people of Borgu Emirate, citing rising insecurity and violence in the region.
Speaking to our correspondent, the Prince of Borgu described the escalating attacks in Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas of Niger State as “unbearable,” leaving residents in constant fear and distress.
“I am deeply troubled by the continuous loss of innocent lives in our communities. Families are being torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and our people are gradually losing hope in the ability of leadership to protect them,” he said.
He called on President Tinubu—who was honored with a traditional title by his late father—and Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State to take urgent action
. “Our people deserve to live without fear, to farm their lands, and to sleep peacefully in their homes. This is not just a local crisis; it is a humanitarian emergency that demands immediate and decisive action from the highest levels of government,” he added.
Dantoro, who is also an aspirant for the House of Representatives under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), raised concerns about the impact of insecurity on democracy.
“If our people are continually killed and displaced, who will exercise their democratic rights in the 2027 general elections? Democracy thrives where there is security and hope, not where citizens live in perpetual terror,” he said.
He further urged the federal government to deploy adequate security personnel, provide necessary resources, and collaborate with local stakeholders to restore peace to Borgu Kingdom
. “Our people have been patient and resilient, but patience without action breeds despair. The time to act is now, before we lose more lives and before our communities lose faith entirely in the government’s capacity to protect them,” he concluded.