Speaker slams Army to stop denying gunmen attack on Traning facilities,  says 20 persons were kidnpped in 5 vehicles

Speaker slams Army to stop denying gunmen attack on Traning facilities,  says 20 persons were kidnpped in 5 vehicles

At least 20 passengers traveling in five vehicles have been kidnapped along the Mariga-Kontagora road in Niger State.

This alarming news was confirmed by Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly and representative for Mariga Constituency, during an interview with reporters.

The kidnapping occurred on Thursday when armed bandits blocked the road between Baban-Lamba and Beri.

Sarkin-Daji’s remarks come in response to the military’s denial of bandit activity in the area, particularly within their training grounds in the Kontagora Local Government Area, which borders Mariga.

The Speaker noted that families of previous victims have repeatedly paid ransoms to bandits in the forest, an area reportedly within the military’s operational zone.

Those released after ransom payments recounted being held in a forest close to the Kontagora Army Barracks.

Sarkin-Daji emphasised that the newly kidnapped passengers were likely taken to the same location and urged the military to gather accurate intelligence and take decisive action against the bandits.

The speaker said: “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.”