The 20 Model Battalion of the Nigerian Army on Thursday said its troops have discovered an illegal security training camp located at  Serti community in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Disclosing the discovery to newsmen in Jalingo, the state capital, the Commanding Officer of the Battalion, Sani Adamu said Agyo Wapan, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Darius Ishaku has been invited for questioning as part of investigations into the issue.

Adamu said the illegal training camp was discovered after a tip off which informed them that at least 300 youth were being trained in a public primary school located in the area.

He added that he promptly responded by visiting the site and found over 300 young men undergoing military training being conducted by GS Security Services, a security outfit in the state, allegedly hired by the state government to train selected youths as marshals.

The Commanding Officer further disclosed that the young men have been profiled and the camp dismantled, while awaiting further directive from the Army headquarters.

When contacted, the Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Area, Hon. Umar Mohammed said the state government was aware of the training, adding that 10 youths were selected from each ward to be trained as marshals who would subsequently be deployed to provide security in their respective communities.

Mohammed said before the exercise, the military, police and the Department of State Service (DSS) were invited to a security meeting where the issues of uniforms and other items that would be needed by the marshals were agreed on.

He maintained those being trained at Serti were recruited from Sardauna and Gashaka local government areas with the full knowledge of all stakeholders in each ward.