In a concerning development, armed bandits have taken control of the Nagwamase Military Cantonment in Kontagora, Niger State, displacing local residents and threatening nearby communities. This military camp, known as a key artillery training site for the Nigerian Army, now reportedly hosts eight separate bandit camps, creating a severe security risk for the region.
On Tuesday, during a plenary session, Hon. Abdullahi Isah of Kontagora II voiced the alarm over ongoing attacks in the area. He reported that 23 communities around the cantonment have been affected, with some residents reportedly held captive by the armed groups. “The presence of bandits has led to incessant attacks on communities within the camp,” he explained, describing how these groups have established multiple camps across the military zone.
The camp’s strategic location, stretching from the Kontagora to Mariga local government areas, heightens concerns about the expanding influence of the armed groups. Legislators in the Niger State House of Assembly responded to Isah’s report by calling on the federal government to work closely with military authorities to address the situation. They emphasized the need for increased military support to dislodge the terrorists and restore peace to the affected communities.
The legislators urged prompt action, stressing that this occupation poses a major security threat to the state and endangers the lives of residents in the area.
