AFRICA

DHQ Denies Claims of Bandits Seizing Army Training Area in Niger State

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Wednesday, said the alleged take over of the Nigerian Army Military Training Area in Kotangora LGA of Niger State was incorrect, inaccurate and inconsistent with realities on the ground.

The Headquarters of the Nigerian Army also said the peddled information was not only untrue, but utterly misleading and harmful, as it appeared calculated to incite unnecessary panic in the neighbourhood.

Nigerian Army insisted that its training areas remain secured, fortified, and designed to swiftly neutralise any security threat.

The Director Defence, Media Operation, Maj Gen Edward Buba, in a statement, averred that no inch of the training area has been ceded to the terrorist.

“The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to media reports making rounds that the Niger State House of Assembly alleged that the Nigerian Army Military Training Area in Kotangora LGA of the state has been taken over by bandits.

“Firstly, this headquarters seize the opportunity to unequivocally state that, this allegation is incorrect and in accurate with realities on the ground.

“While, it is understanding that troops have recorded encounters with terrorists in the course of operating in the general area. No inch of the training area has been ceded to the terrorist,” he said.

He stated that troops constantly eliminated the threat posed by terrorist criss crossing the vast area, adding that their clearance operations in the area had denied the terrorist freedom of action.

Linus Aleke