Borgu Attacks: NSCIA Demands Security Review, Intensified Aerial Surveillance

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has condemned the terrorist attacks on four communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, describing the incident as a serious security threat requiring urgent national intervention.

The council, under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, also called for an immediate and comprehensive review of security arrangements across Niger and Kwara states, as well as adjoining border communities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the NSCIA Public Affairs Officer, Abbas Jimoh, the council particularly highlighted communities around the Kainji Lake National Park and the extensive forest corridors in the area, which it said had been exploited by terrorists as operational and hostage-holding bases.

The NSCIA urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Council, the Ministries of Defence and Interior, and all relevant security agencies to treat the Borgu attacks as a national emergency requiring immediate and coordinated action.

The council also called for intensified aerial surveillance and intelligence-led security operations to identify and disrupt terrorist movements and camps within the affected areas.

Reacting to the reported attack on Muslims observing the Jumu’at prayer, the NSCIA said the incident challenged claims that insecurity in parts of Nigeria was targeted primarily at Christians.

According to Jimoh, the “horrendous savagery” against innocent Muslims during Jumu’at prayer “points to the factual error that the insecurity in parts of the country is genocidal against Christians.”

The council stressed that the protection of civilians should remain central to the government’s response, urging security agencies to strengthen early-warning mechanisms and improve coordination with affected communities.

It further called for the protection of local residents who provide actionable intelligence to security agencies, warning that failure to safeguard informants could discourage communities from sharing critical information about terrorist activities.

The NSCIA also urged authorities to properly regulate and integrate community vigilante structures operating within the law into broader security, early-warning and community-protection mechanisms.

The council said a coordinated response involving federal and state authorities, security agencies and local communities was necessary to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among residents of the affected areas.