They added that the governor also threatened to lock up the parents of anyone who dared to take part in the proposed protest, stressing that he would thereafter, chase the residents of Lapai out from the community permanently.
Some residents of Lapai community have said Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State threatened to arrest and lock up any person who protests against his administration’s establishment of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital (IBBUTH) in Minna, the state capital.
They added that the governor also threatened to lock up the parents of anyone who dared to take part in the proposed protest, stressing that he would thereafter, chase the residents of Lapai out from the community permanently.
It was gathered that Governor Bago-led Niger State government had awarded a contract for the conversion of the defunct Shiroro Hotel in Minna to the IBBU Teaching Hospital.
The government's decision to move the University Teaching Hospital to Minna instead of Lapai community where the IBB University was situated did not go down well with some students and indigenes of Lapai town.
Hence, they are demanding that the teaching hospital be established in the same local government area.
However, one of the residents who disclosed Governor Bago's threat over the agitation and alleged planned protest by Lapai people said, “The governor came to us and said that he heard that some little pests (referring to us) were planning to protest against the establishment of IBBUTH in Minna. He said that may God give us the courage to carry out the protest.
“He added that if we make good our threats, we would know who Bago is. He said he will lock them up with our parents. He also threatened that he would out of Lapai permanently.”