FG promise to combat Boko Haram – Gov. Aliyu

Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger said on Wednesday that the Federal Government had promised to combat insurgency in the country.


Aliyu said this in Minna when he received a delegation from the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

He said that “we have all resolved to fight the Boko Haram to a standstill” at the council meeting on Tuesday.

“What the Boko Haram sect is doing is completely unIslamic. Anybody that slaughters human beings in the name of religion is a charlatan and we have to put them where they belong,” Aliyu said.

“It is now clear that the sect is not a creation of any group bent on destabilising any government,” he said.

Aliyu pledged the state government’s continued support to Christian pilgrimage, saying “I hope my pilgrims will take off from Minna Airport”.

Speaking earlier, Mr John Opara, NCPC Chairman, said that 700 slots had been allocated to the state.

Opara said “we are looking at the possibility of increasing it over time”.

He urged more wealthy people to sponsor the pilgrimage of indigent persons.

“The pilgrimage is a spiritual journey and not a jamboree. The spiritually wealthy should be sponsored by the materially wealthy in order for them to also pray for the nation and the people,” he said.

Opara disclosed that the presidency had approved a nine per cent reduction of pilgrims’ fees through an exchange rate of a dollar to N150. (NAN)