The Nigerian Army today said it discovered an illegal militia training
camp at Nonwa Gbam, (NYSC Orientation Camp) in Tai Local Government Area
(LGA) of Rivers State. A statement released by the Army says troops of
Division 6, discovered an illegal militia training camp. The troops met
over 100 recruits undergoing military type of training.According to the
Army, preliminary investigations into the discovery has commenced in
conjunction with sister security agencies in the state to fish out the
sponsors of the militia and the training camp. However, in a swift
reaction, the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, alleged that the Army
was been used by the Federal government to intimidate the state
government. According to Governor Wike, the trraining camp the military
said it uncovered is actually the camp for the training of itscitizens
being recruited into the state vigilante group known as Rivers State
Neigbourhood Safety Corps Agency.He stated that the disruption of the
training of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Training
programme by the Nigerian Army is the worst act of irresponsibility,
aimed at instigating insecurity In the State.Speaking at the flagged off
for the construction of a Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Odiokwu
Internal Roads, Odiokwu-Anwuigboko and Odiokwu-Oyigbo Roads in Ahoada
West local government today, Governor 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", he said.The governor said that Zamfara and Kogi
States have vigilante outfits which were commissioned by the Nigerian
Army and the APC Federal Government. He wondered why the Nigerian Army
would stoop so low to disrupt a legal training exercise."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", he said.The governor regretted that the Nigerian
Army has been turned into an outfit to stoke insecurity in order to
attract huge security votes."The Army is the agency causing insecurity
mainly to attract more security votes. They collected $1Billion from our
excess crude account, yet our soldiers were killed. 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 ".Governor Wike said that the State Government worked with the
Police, the DSS and other Federal Agencies to ensure that only
law-abiding citizens are recruited by the Rivers State Neighbourhood
Safety Corps Agency."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 ",
he said.Governor Wike declared that the State Government will continue
with the training. He said all the antics of the Nigerian Army will not
deter the government and people of Rivers State."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 ", the governor said.Governor Wike reacts after Nigerian Army says it uncovered an illegal militia training camp in Rivers
The Nigerian Army today said it discovered an illegal militia training
camp at Nonwa Gbam, (NYSC Orientation Camp) in Tai Local Government Area
(LGA) of Rivers State. A statement released by the Army says troops of
Division 6, discovered an illegal militia training camp. The troops met
over 100 recruits undergoing military type of training.According to the
Army, preliminary investigations into the discovery has commenced in
conjunction with sister security agencies in the state to fish out the
sponsors of the militia and the training camp. However, in a swift
reaction, the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, alleged that the Army
was been used by the Federal government to intimidate the state
government. According to Governor Wike, the trraining camp the military
said it uncovered is actually the camp for the training of itscitizens
being recruited into the state vigilante group known as Rivers State
Neigbourhood Safety Corps Agency.He stated that the disruption of the
training of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Training
programme by the Nigerian Army is the worst act of irresponsibility,
aimed at instigating insecurity In the State.Speaking at the flagged off
for the construction of a Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Odiokwu
Internal Roads, Odiokwu-Anwuigboko and Odiokwu-Oyigbo Roads in Ahoada
West local government today, Governor 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", he said.The governor said that Zamfara and Kogi
States have vigilante outfits which were commissioned by the Nigerian
Army and the APC Federal Government. He wondered why the Nigerian Army
would stoop so low to disrupt a legal training exercise."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", he said.The governor regretted that the Nigerian
Army has been turned into an outfit to stoke insecurity in order to
attract huge security votes."The Army is the agency causing insecurity
mainly to attract more security votes. They collected $1Billion from our
excess crude account, yet our soldiers were killed. 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 ".Governor Wike said that the State Government worked with the
Police, the DSS and other Federal Agencies to ensure that only
law-abiding citizens are recruited by the Rivers State Neighbourhood
Safety Corps Agency."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 ",
he said.Governor Wike declared that the State Government will continue
with the training. He said all the antics of the Nigerian Army will not
deter the government and people of Rivers State."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 ", the governor said.
