Toba Owojaiye ReportingÂ
In a startling development, notorious bandit warlord Dogo Gide has extended his dominance in Niger State, with numerous communities swearing loyalty to his rule. Just a month after some Shiroro local government area communities declared allegiance to Dogo Gide’s group, additional villages in the region have followed suit.
Following a peace summit between these communities and the bandit leader, where 36 villages pledged their loyalty, Dogo Gide has allowed the reopening of three major local markets previously shuttered due to insecurity. These newly pledged villages include Makera, Dnakogbe, Kudodo, and others under the Iburo district, as well as numerous villages in Kusasu and Kwaki districts.
In Chikuba district, 11 more villages have also joined the growing list of communities pledging their allegiance to the warlord. The reopening of Kusasu, Iburo, and Chikuba markets, now under Dogo Gide’s revenue collection, has brought a sense of normalcy to these areas previously marred by banditry.
The bandit leader has urged displaced communities to return home, assuring their safety under his terms. During a peace meeting, these communities even celebrated the bandits as their leaders. This trend began a month ago when eight communities surrendered to Dogo Gide’s leadership.
In a related development, the Niger State House of Assembly has urged collaboration between the government and security agencies to secure contractors working on various road projects. They emphasized the need for security, particularly for the Zumba Erena Road and Erena Township Road, which had been abandoned due to bandit kidnappings in 2020.
The House passed this resolution following a report presented by Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gomna, representing the Bosso constituency.