Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, has ordered residents and communities living around Kainji Lake and the surrounding forests to leave the area within two months in preparation for a major security operation against armed groups.
Gatekeepers News reports that the directive was issued on Tuesday after the Governor met with Muhammad Dantoro, the Emir of Borgu, during a condolence visit to the palace.
The Governor said the evacuation would enable security agencies to properly clear the forests of insurgents who have continued to threaten lives and property in the state.
He visited Borgu following recent attacks in Agwara and Borgu local government areas, where no fewer than 42 people were reportedly killed and several others abducted.
Bago assured that communities affected by the directive would be resettled in safer locations by the state government through the emirate council. He explained that forming properly planned settlements would make it easier to secure the area and restore normalcy.
The Governor warned that residents who fail to comply with the two-month ultimatum risk being caught in the security operation, adding that the government is determined to reclaim and secure the forest for future habitation.
A similar evacuation notice was issued in April 2025 when the Nigerian Army asked residents and farmers to vacate parts of the Kainji National Park ahead of a planned military operation.
