Defence HQ denies bandits’ occupation of Niger military training camp

House decries pervasive insecurity in Kogi council 
The Defence Headquarters has refuted the widespread claims that a military training camp in Niger State had been taken over by terrorists.

On Tuesday, the Niger State House of Assembly raised concerns, alleging that bandits had occupied the military camp in Kontagora Local Council and parts of Mariga council area.

In a motion of urgent public importance, Abdullahi Isah, representing Kontagora II State Constituency, noted that following the alleged occupation of the military training camp by bandits, over 23 farming communities near the facility had relocated due to frequent attacks by gunmen.

Responding in a statement yesterday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, clarified that, while banditry subsists in the aforementioned areas, no part of the training camp had been conceded to hoodlums.

Buba stated that military operations in the area have constrained the terrorists’ ability to operate.

He also highlighted the military’s collaboration with the state government to restore peace in the region.

BESIDES, the Kogi House of Assembly has decried the rising insecurity in Bassa Local Council of the state.

In a motion of urgent public importance yesterday in Lokoja, the lawmaker representing Bassa State Constituency, Sunday Daku, lamented that several persons had been killed by unknown gunmen in his council.

He urged the state government to direct security agencies to intensify efforts to avert the loss of more lives in the council area.

After entertaining several contributions, the Speaker, Aliyu Yusuf, directed the House Committee on Security to undertake a comprehensive investigation of the killings in the local council.