Niger govt. confiscates 200 hectres of land owned by radical Islamic sect

The Niger state government has said that it has acquired over 200 hectres of land owned by a radical Islamic sect, which was operating in Lapai local government area of the state.

Also, for the second time within two months, the government has dislodged the sect and arrested its leader, who claimed to be the new Prophet Mohammed.

Aliyu made the disclosure when he received traditional rulers in the state led by the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger state Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who paid him Sallah homage at his residence. He said the parcel of land will be converted to public use.

According to the governor, 50 hectares of the land has been allocated to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, an unspecified hectares was given to the Lapai emirate council and the Lapai local government while the state government will construct a model primary school on the remaining parcel of land.

Aliyu said government action was informed by the administration’s determination to ensure the sect leaders and its members did not return to the place in future adding that the government will not fold its hand and watch some extremists turn the state to a theatre of war.

He admonished traditional rulers in the state to be more security conscious and report people of questionable character to security agencies in their emirates.

Governor Aliyu lamented over the dangerous dimension the activities of the sect has taken which include using of teenage girls as suicide bombers and advised parents to watch closely the activities of their wards and company they keep.

Aliyu therefore, directed staff of the state ministries and its agencies to ensure they properly screen all corpses being brought into the state through the border towns to ensure the dreaded Ebola disease is not spread to the state.

He described Ebola disease as more dreadful than HIV/ AIDS Governor Aliyu challenged traditional rulers to mount vigorous campaigns against its spread in their respect domains.

Earlier, the Chairman of the state council of Chiefs and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar stated that developments in the country is something that instills fears into the mind of the people as such the government should do something about the security situation in the land.

Among the traditional rulers who paid the Sallah homage were the Emir of Suleija Malam Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim, Dr. Umar Farouq Bahago, emir of Minna, Alhaji Yussuf Nuhu, emir of Agaie and the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska as well as the Emir of Borgu, Senator Halliru Dantoro.