Residents flee as terrorists occupy major military training camp in Niger State

The Niger State House of Assembly has raised a pressing alarm over the occupation of the Nagwamase Military Cantonment in Kontagora by armed terrorists, who have also displaced around 23 farming communities in the vicinity.

The camp, one of Nigeria’s largest military training facilities for Army Artillery Corps personnel, now reportedly faces significant security threats.

During a plenary session on Tuesday, Abdullahi Isah, the lawmaker representing Kontagora II State Constituency, highlighted the urgency of the situation.

He urged the Niger State Government to coordinate with military authorities to reclaim the facility and restore security for the affected communities.

Covering a vast expanse from Kontagora to parts of Mariga local government, the Nagwamase Cantonment is critical to national defense.

The Assembly stressed the need for immediate action to counter the occupation and protect both the strategic military site and local residents.

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)