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Gov Wike dares Nigerian Army over closure of training camp

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Gov Wike dares Nigerian Army over closure of training camp

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has expressed anger over the claim by the Nigerian Army that it discovered an ‘illegal militia’ training ground in Rivers State.

The governor, who claimed that the training camp was a programme by the state Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency, said the disruption of its activities by the Nigerian Army on the claim that it was an illegal militia training camp was the worst act of irresponsibility.

According to the governor, the claim by the army is only aimed at instigating insecurity in Rivers State.

He therefore declared that the programme must continue, and that if security forces refused to allow it in other parts of the state, he will have the training conducted in Government House.

The 6 Division Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, had claimed it discovered the alleged illegal militia training camp in the state while conducting routine surveillance of the NYSC Orientation Camp in Nonwa Gbam, Tai Local Government Area.

Col. Aminu Iliyasu, spokesman of the division, said on Thursday in Port Harcourt that soldiers had taken over the camp.

But Wike in his response said the army had been transformed into a political weapon that had abandoned her security responsibilities.

Speaking at Odiokwu, Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he flagged off some projects, Wike said, “The Army is not concerned about the killing of soldiers in Borno. They are only interested in creating insecurity in Rivers State.

“If you don’t want Rivers State to be safe, then Nigeria will not be safe. They want to use their guns against us.

“Zamfara and Kogi States have vigilante groups. They commissioned them and the Chief of Army Staff did nothing. The House of Assembly passed a law approving the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency. The Chief of Army did not challenge the law in court, but today he sent troops to invade the training camp.

“All they are doing is to intimidate people for political reasons. When you fight a state blessed by God, you will crumble. Nobody can intimidate us in Rivers State.

READ ALSO: Just like in Benue and Taraba, Army discovers ‘illegal militia training camp’ in Rivers

“We did not hire boys for political reasons. This has been a transparent process and that is why the personnel are trained at the NYSC Orientation Camp at Nonwa.

“We involved the Police and the DSS to ensure that the trainees are profiled for the good of the society. The main aim of this agency assist the security agencies with intelligence and information, since there is a lacuna in this regard.

“No one man has been a Chief of Army Staff forever. Every job has an expiry date. When Buratai leaves office, he will be held to account for his illegal actions.

“If they stop the training elsewhere, personnel of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency will be trained at the Government House Port Harcourt.”

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