In a bold response to escalating insecurity in Niger State, Governor Umaru Bago has imposed a dusk-to-dawn ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke Napep) within Minna, the state capital.
The restriction, which runs from 6pm to 6am, was announced during a high-level security meeting held at the Government House, Minna. The session brought together traditional leaders from the Minna Emirate and top security chiefs in a unified front against rising violence and criminality.
Governor Bago stated that the decision was informed by intelligence linking the use of motorcycles and tricycles to a series of criminal activities, including theft, stabbings, and coordinated attacks.
“The primary duty of any government is to protect lives and property,” the governor asserted. “We cannot allow criminal elements to keep terrorizing our communities under the cover of night.”
In a sweeping crackdown on criminal networks, Bago also ordered the immediate demolition of any property found to be harboring criminals or serving as a hub for drug trafficking. He directed community leaders—district, village, and ward heads—to keep detailed records of residents and remain vigilant.
“Any structure found sheltering criminals or drug peddlers will be pulled down without hesitation,” he said. “Community leaders must now take ownership of security in their domains.”
While the curfew exempts medical emergency responders, the governor emphasized that the measure is temporary, aimed at restoring calm and reclaiming public spaces from those who threaten peace.
Taking a hardline stance, Bago declared his personal readiness to join security operatives in combing criminal hideouts across the capital. He called on citizens to be proactive in exposing suspicious individuals and activities.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility. These criminals do not fall from the sky—they live among us. I am ready to lead the charge and bring them to justice,” he said.
He also cautioned parents to rein in their children and warned that anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, Emir of Minna Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago, senior traditional figures, and heads of the state’s security architecture.
