Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, has countered the refutal by the Nigerian Army that bandits have not taken over their training camp located in Kontagora local government area of the state.
It was widely reported on Wednesday that bandits had over ran the military training camp which is the largest in the country and taken over the facility.
The reports also stated that no fewer than 20 passengers in 5 vehicles were kidnapped along the Mariga-Kontagora road and were held at the training camp.
But while reacting to the story, the DHQ, in a statement on Thursday, refuted the attack, saying that the training camp had not been taken over by bandits.
However, in a interaction with journalists in Minna on Friday, Sarkin-Daji insisted that the military base had truly been taken over by the bandits where they are currently holding the 20 kidnapped victims.
The Speaker said another incident happened on Thursday when bandits blocked Mariga-Kontagora road between Baban-Lamba and Beri and abducted the victims.
He added that families of the victims previously kidnapped had taken ransom to bandits several times in the forest which was part of the military ground.
“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,” Sarkin-Daji said.
“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 five 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,” the Speaker said.
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