.Kaduna canvasses speedy trial of terrorists, others

The Niger House of Assembly has decried the occupation of a military training camp in Kontagora Local Council of the state by bandits, stating that their activities had dislodged 23 communities around the facility.

The camp is situated at Nagwamase military cantonment in the council headquarters.

The cantonment hosts the largest military training camp in Nigeria, where personnel of the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army undergo training, but according to the House, the training camp has been taken over by hoodlums.

The legislature had reportedly advised the state government to urgently liaise with the military authority to flush out the bandits from the camp.

In a motion of urgent public importance moved at plenary yesterday, the member representing Kontagora II state constituency, Abdullahi Isah, said the military camp, which occupied an expanse of land, extending from Kontagora council area to part of Mariga local council, was being occupied by the gunmen.

Isah told his colleagues that following the occupation, 23 farming communities have relocated due to the frequent attacks by the hoodlums.

He claimed: “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 haven, has posed a serious security threat to communities within the camp, both in Kontagora and Mariga local councils.”

After deliberation, the House urged the state government to liaise with the military authority to flush out the bandits for the host communities to return to their homes.

Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has said the speedy trial of terrorists and other criminal elements by the judiciary could boost the government’s fight against insecurity.

According to him, the delay in their prosecution and punishment will continue to embolden criminals.

Sani noted that the government was up and doing “to effectively degrade and defeat criminal elements in Kaduna State. So, agencies responsible for prosecution and the judiciary must prioritise security and ensure that there is no undue delay in prosecution.”

He appealed the swearing-in of Justice Murtala Jafaaru Zubairu as a High Court judge yesterday in Kaduna.

The governor also pledged to improve the workplace for judicial personnel, as well as strengthen public trust in the justice system, improve access to justice for citizens, and facilitate continuing education for judicial officers.

“I am committed to enhancing a cordial working relationship with the judicial arm of government,” he said, promising to continue doing “all that is necessary for promoting, projecting and ensuring that our justice service delivery and indeed the justice sector keeps working in line with the extant provisions of the law.”