Gov. Bago Calls for Peace, Rejects Ethnic Division After Borgu Communal Clashes

Gov. Bago Calls for Peace, Rejects Ethnic Division After Borgu Communal Clashes

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has called on residents of the state to shun ethnic and tribal divisions, stressing that peaceful coexistence remains essential to sustainable development and security.

Governor Bago made the appeal during a sympathy visit to the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, where he met representatives of the Fulani, Kambari, Boko and Barigawa communities following the recent communal clashes in parts of Borgu Emirate that claimed several lives and destroyed property.

Describing the violence as “unfortunate and shameful,” the governor said the clashes came at a time when the state was already confronting security challenges, urging residents not to worsen the situation through retaliatory attacks and ethnic hostility.

He noted that while the Federal Government and security agencies had made significant progress in reducing insecurity across parts of Niger State, lasting peace could only be achieved through unity, dialogue and mutual respect among communities.

Governor Bago expressed condolences to the Emir of Borgu and the affected families, directing the immediate constitution of a Peace and Reconciliation Committee to investigate the root causes of the conflict and recommend lasting solutions.

He urged residents to embrace peace, obey the law, and respect one another’s rights irrespective of ethnic or religious background.

In his remarks, the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV, commended the governor for his continued interventions in the emirate and his commitment to tackling insecurity.

The monarch acknowledged that government efforts had led to noticeable improvements in security but called for sustained collaboration to completely restore peace across Borgu Kingdom.

He also cautioned against the spread of misinformation on social media, warning that fake news and inflammatory content often fuel tension and create unnecessary panic among residents.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, and the member representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, Hon. Jafaru Mohammed, urged communities to embrace tolerance, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence, describing unity as a shared value promoted by all religions.

Similarly, the member representing Borgu Constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulrahman Gambo, and the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, praised Governor Bago’s swift intervention and advocated sustained dialogue involving all affected communities to prevent future violence.

Representatives of the Fulani, Kambari and Boko communities expressed appreciation to both the Emir and the governor for their leadership and peacebuilding efforts, pledging their commitment to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

The recent clashes in Borgu Emirate reportedly involved members of the Fulani, Kambari, Barigawa and Boko communities, with the violence widely linked to a cycle of reprisal attacks.

Governor Bago reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting peace, strengthening security and ensuring that all communities in Niger State live together in harmony.

Gov. Bago Calls for Peace, Rejects Ethnic Division After Borgu Communal Clashes