Niger State House of Assembly has raised the alarm over take over and occupation of one of the biggest military training camps in Nigeria by terrorists saying the gunmen have also chased away about 23 farming communities within the area.
The training camp is located at the Nagwamase Military Cantonment in Kontagora, headquarters of the Kontagora local government area of the state.
The Nagwamase Military Cantonment, Kontagora, hosts the largest military training camp in Nigeria, where personnel of the Nigerian Army Artillery Corps undergo training, but according to the state lawmakers, the facility has been taken over by terrorists.
The Assembly, therefore, urged the State Government to liaise with the military authority to flush out the terrorists from the training camp, which also plays host to about 23 communities in the area.
In a motion of urgent public importance brought by the member representing Kontagora II State Constituency, Abdullahi Isah, during plenary on Tuesday, the military camp, which occupied very large pieces of land extending from Kontagora local government to part of Mariga local government, is now being occupied by the gunmen.
According to him, “This military camp is now known to have been taken over by terrorists who are said to have established at least eight different camps in the area. The presence of the terrorists on this training camp, which now serves as their haven, has posed a serious security challenge to communities within the camp both in Kontagora and Mariga local government areas”.
He pointed out that in the last month, communities within the training camp have come under intense attacks from the terrorists who operate with impunity, adding that some members of the communities that were abducted during the recent operation were still being held by the gunmen.
After much deliberation, the Assembly urged the State Government to, as a matter of urgency, liaise with the military authority to intensify efforts towards flushing out the terrorists from the training camp, adding that this will allow the host communities to return to their homes.
The Assembly also urged the government to give the military the necessary support towards securing the training camp and restoring peace to the area.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
