The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, during his visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Gwada in Shiroro Local Government Area on Friday, admitted that the government is overwhelmed by the security challenge in the state and cannot do anything about it.

Ketso visited the camp without newsmen except for his press crew but our Correspondent was able to obtain some recordings of his speech during the visit during which the IDPs murmured, clearly unhappy with what he told them.

He said that the security situation in the state is above the state and that all they need to do now is to “pray”.

He further warned the people to desist from being informants for the bandits adding that it is the operations of informants that have increased their operations in the state.

The Deputy Governor also said that the government is giving the IDPs N2 million for them to use for their upkeep.

Ketso was accompanied by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, the state Commissioner of Police and the state Director of the DSS.

Meanwhile, reactions have followed the visit of the Deputy Governor and his team to the IDP camp as the people in the state have expressed disappointment following his statement with many of them declaring that the government has failed in its responsibility.

The people also asked the IDPs to reject the N2 million cash gift saying that it was an insult to them for the government to come to them with such a paltry amount.

The President, Lakpma Youths Assembly, Jibrin Allawa called on the Deputy Governor to withdraw his statement saying that they should acknowledge that they have failed the people and nothing can quantify for that. (Sunday Telegraph)

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