Nigeria may face a worsening food crisis as approximately 23 farming communities have fled their homes following the occupation of a significant military training camp in Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State, by armed bandits.
The Niger State House of Assembly revealed this during a plenary session on Tuesday, highlighting the situation at Nagwamase Military Cantonment, one of Nigeria’s largest military training sites. The camp, which stretches from Kontagora into parts of Mariga Local Government, is now under the control of heavily armed bandits, posing significant security risks to both military personnel and local communities reliant on the cantonment’s stability.
Abdullahi Isah, representing the Kontagora II constituency, introduced a motion of urgent public importance, detailing how the bandits’ occupation has led to frequent and violent attacks. This has forced families in over 23 farming communities near the camp to abandon their homes.
Assembly members expressed deep concern over the strategic importance of the Nagwamase cantonment, crucial for training artillery corps of the Nigerian Army. The bandits’ presence has severely disrupted military activities and routine training exercises, endangering the lives and livelihoods of the local communities.
The House of Assembly called on the Niger State government to engage with military authorities to address the security crisis and reclaim the training camp. Lawmakers stressed the need to restore order at the cantonment for the defense establishment’s sake and the safety of the 23 affected communities in Kontagora and Mariga.
The Assembly’s plea underscores the severity of the security situation in Niger State, urging immediate intervention to prevent further displacement and to restore the military training facility to full operation.
