Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, has directed residents and communities around the Kainji lake and its surrounding forests to vacate the area within two months, ahead of a planned security operation targeting armed insurgents.
Bago issued the directive on Tuesday while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Muhammad Dantoro, the Emir of Borgu, during a condolence visit to his palace.
The governor said the evacuation was necessary to allow security forces to clear the forest of armed groups that pose security threats to communities in the state
He was in Borgu following recent attacks on communities in Agwarra and Borgu LGAs of Niger state, where at least 42 people were killed and several others abducted
According to Bago, affected communities would be resettled by the state government in safer locations after vacating the area.
“It’s a call on all the communities around the Kainji Lake to come out and be resettled by the emirate council in a place where they will form a proper town,” the Bago said.
“When this is done, we will be able to clear and flush out that forest. We have given an ultimatum of two months from today that everybody, every community within that forest, should come out and be resettled. If they fail to do so, they risk being collateral damage.”
Bago added that the government was determined to reclaim the forest from insurgents.
“We are going to take over this forest, burn it down and smoke them out. We will ensure the land becomes habitable again,” he said.
In April 2025, the Nigerian army issued a similar warning, asking farmers and residents to vacate the Kainji National Park ahead of a planned military raid in the area.
