***Calls for Prayers Amid Ongoing Attacks
The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has begun renovating Kakihum Secondary School in Mariga Local Government Area after bandits burned it down during a series of violent attacks that left scores dead, including security personnel.
Sarkindaji, while inspecting the reconstruction on Monday, urged residents of his Mariga Constituency to intensify prayers for divine intervention against what he described as “wicked and heartless” bandit assaults that have plagued the area for months.
The Speaker recalled that about 20 soldiers were killed in separate attacks on Gulbin Boka and Kwanan Duse communities, and that the school—used as a temporary military camp—was destroyed when bandits stormed Kakihum in their hundreds.
“The destruction of government infrastructure like this school is the most wicked act by these enemies of the people,” Sarkindaji said. “Education is the gateway to development. If the schools are destroyed 100 times, we will rebuild them 100 times. The people must have access to quality education.”
He stressed that the renovation project is more than rebuilding classrooms, describing it as an effort to “restore hope, dignity, and the future of the children” in the affected communities.
Sarkindaji also reassured constituents that he would not abandon them during this difficult period. “With prayers, Allah will subdue those who perpetrate evil against innocent citizens,” he said.
The Speaker commended Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago for his efforts to restore peace in the troubled areas, noting that the state government’s interventions had brought some relief to the communities.
Residents say the persistent attacks—marked by killings, kidnappings, and destruction of property—have left them living in fear. They are appealing for stronger security measures to protect schools and farmlands from further assault.
The ongoing renovation is expected to allow academic activities to resume soon, signaling a determined step by the Speaker to ensure education continues despite the violence.