- Says 20 persons in five vehicles kidnapped along Mariga-Kontagora Road on Thursday
Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, has asked the Nigerian military to stop living in denial on the takeover of the expansive Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Kontagora, Niger State by bandits.
Doubling down on its stance that it has become an established haven for keeping kidnapped victims, the Speaker said that even on Thursday (yesterday), the bandits abducted no fewer than 20 passengers in five vehicles when they blocked the Mariga-Kontagora road between Baban-Lamba and Beri.
Sarkin-Daji, who was reacting to the Nigerian Army’s refutal that bandits were not on its training ground in Kontagora LGA of the State which also extends to Mariga LGA, said families of the victims previously kidnapped had taken ransom to bandits several times in the forest which was part of the military ground.
He said the victims, who were released after the ransom payments also told their families that they were kept in a forest not far from the Kontagora Army Barracks.
The Speaker said the passengers that were kidnapped on Thursday on Mariga-Kontagora road were also moved to the same forest, calling on the military to get the right information and flush out the bandits from the forest.
According to him: “As members representing our people, we get feedback from our constituents of their plights. So, before we present anything on the floor of the House, we have done our investigation very well.
“It is not as if we are underrating the military capacity to fight bandits and terrorists but it is not right to just dismiss the complaints of our people. We want the federal government and concerned authorities to know their plights.
“The communities said the military training ground had become a safe haven for bandits who always come out of that forest to attack them, kidnap people and take them to the same Forest. Even the kidnapped victims that were released after the payment of ransom said they were taken to the same bush and they could sight the Kontagora Army Barrack from where they were kept by the bandits.
“What we expect from the military was to seek more information about what victims have told us and flush the bandits out. But you cannot just come out to refute what a member of House of Assembly had said.
“Let me tell you, as military refuted what one of our members said Wednesday, on Thursday, October 31, bandits blocked the road between Baban-Lamba and Beri and kidnapped all Passengers in 5 vehicles. More than 20 passengers were kidnapped and taken to the same forest. From Kontagora to Beri is a vast land belonging to Army Barracks Kontagora.
“So, refuting the complaint of people is not right. The military should do the needful and flush out these criminals. The military is made to protect the people. So, we will continue to speak out to let the federal government and all stakeholders know the plight of our people.”
Earlier, the Niger State House of Assembly had raised alarm over the occupation of Nigeria’s largest military training camp in Kontagora LGA by bandits, saying that their activities have displaced 23 communities around the Nagwamase military cantonment in the Kontagora LGA headquarters.
According to the lawmakers, the cantonment, hosts the largest military training camp in Nigeria, where personnel of the Nigerian Army’s artillery corps undergo training.
The Assembly said that bandits had taken over the training camp and urged the state government to immediately liaise with the military authorities to flush them out.
But on Wednesday, Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said that clims of bandits taking over the military camp in Niger State is “untrue.”
According to a statement by General Nwachukwu: “The Nigerian Army is aware of the vicious insinuations circulating in the media, alleging that insurgents have taken over a Military Training Area in Kontagora, Niger State. We acknowledge the palpable unease this baseless claim may have stirred within the Kontagora and Mariga communities, as well as Niger State as a whole. However, we wish to clarify that no credible threat exists in those areas as being peddled, contrary to the information presented by Honourable Abdullahi Isah, representing the Kontagora II Constituency on the floor of the Niger State House of Assembly on 28 October 2024.
“Reports purporting an invasion of the military training area by alleged bandits and the subsequent displacement of residents from 23 communities across Kontagora and Mariga are not only untrue, but are utterly misleading and harmful, as it appears calculated to incite unnecessary panic in the neighbourhood. A thorough investigation by our intelligence unit confirmed that the individuals observed in the area were herders seeking grazing grounds for their herds. No malicious intent was detected, and no hostile actions were observed.
“While we appreciate the vigilance of the communities and the honourable member’s commitment to the safety of the people he represents, we strongly urge all concerned parties to approach such matters with caution and verify information through official channels, in this case, the Nigerian Army. Undoubtedly, misinformation of this nature has the potential to spread unwarranted fear, engender panic, misdirect valuable resources away from real security priorities, and ultimately aggravate the security situation.
“Our training areas remain secured, fortified, and designed to swiftly neutralize any security threat. The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of our host communities and Nigerians in general.”