Shiroro LG Chairman, Dauda paid N14 million to spiritualists to stop bandits attack – Secretary reveals

The Secretary of Shiroro local government area in Niger State, Mr. Adams Kefas, has said the sums of N14 million was paid to some spiritualists and vigilante groups to curtail the incessant insecurity in the area.

Adams Kefas told the Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik Judicial Commission of inquiry investigating the suspended chairman of Shiroro local goverment area, Suleiman Dauda Chukuba over a petition alleging that he misappropriated N50 million tenement rate.

He said the engagement of the spiritualists was as a result of an advice from some people within the area, who told them that some communities who were also victims of the armed bandits attacks did engaged them and it work for them.

“Then we yielded to their advice and that was the reason we resorted to engaging the service of the spiritualists and vigilante groups to assist us in curtailing the security challenges we are facing in our communties.”

According to the Council Secretary, some of the spiritualists were brought in from Akare in Wushishi Local Government area and Chikun Local government area in Kaduna state, while some of the vigilante groups were from the Local Government and were also brought from Chikun Local Government.

When asked by the chairman of the commission, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik on his faith as a Christian if he believes in engaging the service of spiritualists to curtail security challenges, the Secretary told the Commission that, he never knew that he was going to meet the spiritualists “not untill I reached the place then I don’t have anything than to do what I did.

He further told the Commission that the award of some contracts was a collective resolution of the Council legislature.

“Tmeeting held with some stakeholders of Shiroro local Government at Markson farm in Mutum Daya that identified some of the projects to be sited in their respective wards which was agreed upon by the councilors.

“There was a resolution of the legislatures of a meeting that the issue of contract was discussed. And the meeting, it was collectively resolved that the councilors should identify the projects and they also identified the projects of their interest and their location.

“That is what was resolved at the stakeholders meeting at Markson farm Mutum.”