Niger State's governor has ruled out any deals or payouts to bandits, instead calling on residents to arm themselves for protection amid a surge in kidnappings and village raids that have displaced hundreds in the northwest.

During a visit on Wednesday to Rijau and Magama local government areas—recent targets of deadly raids that left at least five people dead and dozens kidnapped—Bago addressed community leaders and survivors, vowing not to capitulate to criminal demands. “I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom,” he said. “The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people.”

Framing the crisis as a “state of war,” the governor emphasized the constitutional right of citizens to defend themselves and their property. While he stopped short of directly urging residents to bear arms, his remarks were widely interpreted as a call for heightened vigilance and community-based resistance. “We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up,” Bago said.

To reinforce local security, the governor announced the recruitment of 10,000 volunteers into an expanded Joint Task Force, with training to begin soon. The force will focus on high-risk areas such as the Kontagora emirate, where bandit activity has intensified in recent months.

In a related move, Bago imposed a sweeping ban on mining operations across eight local governments in Zone C—Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu, and Agwara—citing illegal mining as a key driver of insecurity. He directed the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to arrest violators, amid longstanding suspicions that miners navigate bandit-held forests unchallenged, while rural communities suffer repeated attacks.

The region, which borders Zamfara and Kaduna—epicenters of Nigeria’s bandit crisis—has seen escalating violence this year. In Rijau alone, last week’s raids displaced over 200 residents, adding to a national tally of more than 3,000 kidnappings since January. Bago pledged support for victims, including compensation for bereaved families, medical care for the injured, and seed grants for farmers whose lands were destroyed.

Rights advocates welcomed the governor’s no-ransom policy but warned of potential risks. “Self-defense is a last resort, but without arms control and rapid response units, it could spark cycles of revenge,” said Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, Niger coordinator for the Civil Liberties Organisation.