Suleiman Chukuba, chairman of Shiroro LGA in Niger state, said over 500 communities in his LGA have been taken over by Boko Haram insurgents.
Chukuba stated this while speaking with journalists in Minna on the situation of Shiroro LGA.
He said not less than 8 wards in the LGA are now under Boko Haram siege.
According to him, the affected areas include Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawa, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwati, Chukuba and Galadima Kogo.
He said the terrorists are now equipping the communities to fight the government.
Chukuba said: “I have the proof being that I am the executive chairman, the chief security officer of the local government. When they go to the various communities, what they tell them is that ‘We don’t want primary, secondary schools. We only want Islamiyya schools.
“They incorporate the people of those communities by telling them they have arms and money to give them so they can assist them in fighting the government.
“Shiroro local government has an uncountable number of Boko Haram fighters.”
The council chairman however called on the federal government to deploy more security operatives to the area to fight the insurgents.
Governor Abubakar Bello had in April, confirmed that Boko Haram members hoisted their flag in Kaure, Shiroro LGA.
The governor had confirmed the presence of the insurgents when he visited over 3,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Shiroro and Munya LGAs who were taking refuge in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Primary School, Minna.
The governor also expressed concern over “how wives of the locals have been taken over” by the insurgents.
“I am confirming that there are Boko Haram elements in Niger state, around Kaure,” Bello had said.
