How I Saved Niger State From Being Boko Haram’s Headquarter – Ex-Gov. Reveals

A former governor of Niger State, Dr Muazu Aliyu, has claimed that he chased Abubakar Shekau, the dreaded founder of Boko Haram terrorist group, and his lieutenant, Abu Qaka, away, saving the state from becoming the headquarter of the insurgent group during his first tenure.

Aliyu who featured as a guest speaker at the 2023 Annual Public Lecture/Awards and Election of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Kaduna Branch over the weekend, revealed that when he took over as governor of Niger State, he discovered the camp of the insurgents and got the support of then President, late Umar Yar’Adua, to disperse them.

The former governor noted that 60% of members of the insurgent group were not Nigerians, however, he got the support of Yar’Adua “to disperse them after compensating them and providing them fare to their destination in Nigeria and the foreigners were taken to their borders.”

In Aliyu’s words;

“The primary purpose of government is the security of lives and property of the citizens, which some governors don’t take seriously. As chief security officer of your state, you cannot claim inability to secure your citizens. Yes, the officers of the security agencies might not have come from your state, they are federal officers posted to assist you in your state.

“Being proactive as a leader and follower also helps so much. When I arrived in Niger State, I found a security challenge. Nine people. who went to a village in the Mokwa Local Government Area, had multiplied in 2007 to 7,000 people, and were involved in armed robbery and abducting women in the area. They constituted themselves into a republic.

“I also discovered that many governors had tried to do something but were probably frustrated by Abuja. In fact, two immigration officers sent to investigate the activities of the group became members.

“When I took a census, I discovered that more than 60 per cent of the members were not Nigerians. The original Shekau and Abu Qaga were the leaders. I got the support of the late President Musa Yar’Adua to disperse them after compensating them and providing them fare to their destination in Nigeria and the foreigners were taken to their borders.

“That action probably saved Niger State from being the foundation for Boko Haram as we come to know; they were regularly visiting the River Niger bridge. That the Federal Government would support any governor who has done his homework is not in doubt.”