A member of the Borgu Royal Family in Niger State, Murtala Dantoro, has blamed recent deadly attacks in Borgu Local Government Area on what he described as glaring security lapses and a systemic failure by both the federal and state governments.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Dantoro said the attack on Kasuwan Daji market was a direct consequence of the absence of security presence across large parts of Borgu, warning that the area has increasingly become a soft target for bandits.

According to him, the sheer size of Borgu Local Government, which spans nearly 13,000 square kilometres, makes effective security coverage critical. He noted that the Kainji Lake National Park, which occupies a vast portion of the area, has remained largely idle for years, creating hideouts that criminal elements can easily exploit.

Dantoro explained that banditry thrives where criminals can operate undetected, adding that Borgu’s strategic location in the North Central region, with borders linking Kebbi and Kwara states, has worsened the situation. He described the insecurity as a “territorial banditry crisis,” fuelled by porous boundaries and weak enforcement.

He lamented that there is virtually no security presence in several communities, particularly from Babana down to Papiri, making residents vulnerable to attacks. He linked the Kasuwan Daji incident to what he called “banditry migration,” where armed groups relocate to areas with weak or nonexistent security structures.

Referring to a previous attack in Papiri that led to the abduction of more than 250 students, Dantoro said the failure to adequately secure the area after such a major incident emboldened criminals to strike again. He argued that insecurity persists when communities are isolated and neglected by authorities.

Dantoro accused the government of being reactive rather than proactive, stressing that the Kasuwan Daji market attack happened on a known market day and could have been prevented with proper intelligence and security deployment.

He described the situation as a systematic failure at both federal and state levels, warning that continued inaction sends a dangerous signal to bandits that they can attack without consequences.

While expressing belief in government institutions, Dantoro said urgent steps must be taken to restore security and protect innocent lives, insisting that without a sustained and visible security presence, communities in Borgu would remain exposed to further violence.