Governor Sani Bello of Niger State

Mr Ibrahim Salihu, Deputy Director, Niger State Museum, has called on the government to recruit a special team to guard archaeological sites against vandals.

“Niger has a lot of archaeological and cultural sites that are being vandalised by unpatriotic persons. Government should recruit a special team to secure these precious valuables,” Salihu told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Minna.

He particularly called for more personnel to protect the monument at Zungeru that was hosting a cemetery containing about 100 graves of colonial aides to Lord Lugard.

The official appealed to government to build a perimeter fence to address security challenges around the museum.

“As you can see, people pass through several angles to either the Gwari market, the abattoir and other places.

“Such a porous situation is not good for us as the custodian of the people’s cultural heritage.

“We usually receive local and international visitors; it is embarrassing to have trespassers when these tourists and visitors are with us.

“This place is porous both in and out. We should not allow this situation to continue,” he said.

(NAN)