* Host communities flee
The Niger State House of Assembly has raised the alarm over the occupation of one of the biggest military training camps in the country by bandits in the State lamenting that the gunmen have also chased out about 23 communities within the camp area.
The training camp is situated at the Nagwamase military cantonment in Kontagora, the headquarters of Kontagora Local Government Area of the State.
The Nagwamase Military Cantonment, Kontagora, hosts Nigeria’s largest military training camp, where personnel of the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army undergo training.
However, according to the State House of Assembly, the training camp has been taken over by bandits.
The NSHA, therefore, urged the State government to liaise with the military authority with a view to flushing out the bandits 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 11 State Constituency, Hon. Abdullahi Isah, during its plenary on Tuesday, said the military camp which occupied a very large expanse of land extending from Kontagora Local Government Area to part of Mariga Local Government Area is now in the hands of gunmen.
Hon. Isah told the House that following the occupation of the training camp by the bandits, over 23 farming communities within the camp have relocated due to the incessant attacks by the gunmen.
“This military camp is now known to have been taken over by bandits who are said to have established at least eight different camps in the area. The presence of the bandits in this training camp, which now serves as their safe haven, has posed serious security challenges to communities within the camp both in Kontagora and Mariga local government areas,” Hon. Isah lamented.
He pointed out that in the last one month, communities within the training camp have come under intense attacks from the bandits who operate with impunity, adding that some members of the communities that were abducted during the recent operation are still being held by the gunmen.
After much deliberation, the House urged the State government to, as a matter of urgency, liaise with the military authorities with a view to their intensifying efforts towards flushing out bandits from the training camp, noting that this will allow the host communities return to their homes.
The House also urged the government to give the military the necessary support towards securing the training camp and restoring peace in the area.
