Army Dismantles Camp, Evacuates Troops From Niger Community

A Nigerian Army camp in the terrorist-ravaged communities in Allawa of Shiroro local government area of Niger State has been dismantled and the troops withdrawn.

Sources in the village told LEADERSHIP Friday that the soldiers were on Wednesday evacuated from the community that bandits/Boko Haram have struck frequently in recent months.

Last week, six soldiers including a captain of the Nigerian Army were killed and sources hinted that on Monday, two of the new soldiers posted to replace the dead soldiers were killed by Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the terrorists.

Consequently, it was learnt that the army came on Wednesday and dismantled the camp at Allawa, with no alternative arrangements in place to secure the community.

The chairman of Shiroro local government area, Hon Akilu Isyaku Kuta, confirmed to LEADERSHIP Friday in a telephone interview the latest development in the area and how the people now live in fear.

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He said, “The entire Allawa ward has no presence of security men as they solely rely on the services provided by local hunters and vigilantes.”

“The local hunters have been drafted to about 20 communities of Allawa down to Bassa to bring them to Erena and Kuta since the Army camp that has been a major source of security for the people has been dismantled,” Kuta said.

He said he had informed the authorities and hoped that the decision would be reversed in empathy for the majority of the people who suffer losses in the hands of the terrorists.

Also speaking to LEADERSHIP Friday, the commissioner for homeland security, General Garba Mohammed (rtd), confirmed the incident but said it was being misconstrued.

“I have been in several meetings on this issue, in such operations, soldiers can be withdrawn for reinforcement and not that they abandoned the area as people are saying,” Mohammed said.