Home Business Bandits Occupy Military Camp, Forcing 23 Farming Communities to Flee in Niger State

Bandits Occupy Military Camp, Forcing 23 Farming Communities to Flee in Niger State

by Arabella Zikora

Nigeria may be thrown into a worse food crisis soon as approximately 23 farming communities have fled their homes, following the occupation of a major military training camp in Kontagora Local Government Area in Niger State by armed bandits.

The sad development was revealed by the Niger State House of Assembly during a plenary session on Tuesday as they discussed the situation at Nagwamase Military Cantonment, a prominent military training site in Kontagora known for being one of Nigeria’s largest military training camps.

The training grounds, which cover an expansive area extending from Kontagora into parts of Mariga Local Government, have reportedly come under the control of heavily armed bandits.

A vendor counts her money as a girls looks on at the Lokoja International Market in Lokoja on October 21, 2024. (Photo by OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP)

This takeover, according to them has posed significant security risks, not only for the military personnel stationed there, but also for the local communities that rely on the cantonment’s stability for their own safety.

Tiger nuts are sold at the market in Jibia on February 18, 2024. – Nigeria, which shares 1,600 km of border with its neighbor, was until now one of Niger’s main trading partners with $193 million in exports in 2022 according to the United Nations (electricity, tobacco, cement, etc). Since the border closure, it has even been a double whammy for the local population, who have seen food prices explode under the combined effect of new movement restrictions and galloping inflation after the Nigerian president , Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in office since May, implemented economic reforms which plunged the country into crisis. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

Abdullahi Isah, representing the Kontagora II constituency, introduced a motion of urgent public importance, addressing the Assembly with details of the situation.

He reported that the armed bandits’ occupation of the military camp has led to frequent and violent attacks, forcing families in over 23 farming communities within the camp’s vicinity to abandon their homes and relocate to safer areas.

Expressing deep concern over the situation, the Assembly members highlighted the strategic importance of the Nagwamase cantonment, which serves as a critical training ground for the artillery corps of the Nigerian Army. The training site is integral to the country’s defence infrastructure and is used to prepare artillery personnel for military duties across the nation.

However, the Assembly noted that these bandits have severely disrupted military activities and routine training exercises due to their occupation of the grounds.

Traders sell mangoes at the market in Jibia on February 18, 2024. – Nigeria, which shares 1,600 km of border with its neighbor, was until now one of Niger’s main trading partners with $193 million in exports in 2022 according to the United Nations (electricity, tobacco, cement, etc). Since the border closure, it has even been a double whammy for the local population, who have seen food prices explode under the combined effect of new movement restrictions and galloping inflation after the Nigerian president , Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in office since May, implemented economic reforms which plunged the country into crisis. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)

The House of Assembly called on the Niger State government to engage directly with military authorities to address the security crisis and mobilise efforts to reclaim the training camp.

Lawmakers stressed that restoring order at the Nagwamase cantonment is vital not only for the defence establishment but also for the safety and livelihood of the 23 affected communities in Kontagora and Mariga.

The Assembly’s plea reflects the gravity of the security situation in Niger State, with the lawmakers urging immediate intervention to prevent further displacement of civilians and to restore the strategic military training facility to full operation.

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