Just 24 hours after the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar red flagged Rivers State as a flashpoint of violence during the forthcoming 2019 elections, the Nigerian Army today busted a training camp for an illegal militia in the state.

In a statement signed and circulated by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, the army said it bursted the training camp of the illegal militia in Nonwa Gbam in Tai Local Government Area of the state. 

Kristina Reports findings indicate that over 5,000 recruits were involved in the training programme allegedly being sponsored by the Rivers State Government.

Unconfirmed reports have it that the recruits were being trained to serve in the Rivers State Neighborhood Safety Corps.

The state government was yet to make a statement on the matter as at the time of this report.

The statement from the Nigerian Army reads:

“DISCOVERY OF AN ILLEGAL MILITIA TRAINING CAMP

Troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army (NA) today the 29th November 2018 while on a routine surveillance at Nonwa Gbam, (NYSC Orientation Camp) in Tai Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, discovered an illegal militia training camp. The troops met over 100 recruits undergoing military type of training.

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.

Recall that similar illegal militia training camps were discovered and disbanded in Benue and Taraba States earlier in the year and measures were promptly taken to forestall breach of security and safety of citizens.

You are kindly requested to disseminate the above information to the general public for awareness. Thank you for your usual cooperation.

AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations”