As part of efforts to address the rising insecurity in Kogi West senatorial district of Kogi State, Senator Sunday Karimi has constructed and handed over a fully furnished and equipped military base to the Nigerian Army authorities.
The military base, located in the outskirts of Egbe, Yagba West local government area of the State, would help to improve security in the State and some areas of the neighbouring Kwara State.
Speaking during the commissioning of the military base on Saturday, the Karimi, who represents Kogi West senatorial district in the Senate, said the project was aimed at helping the military and other security agencies to ensure quick response in combating terrorists, kidnappers, and other criminals in the area.
He said, “I conceived the idea of the military base in January this year to assist the Nigerian military and security agencies to ensure quick response in combating terrorists, kidnappers, and criminals whose activities in recent times around the border of Kogi and Kwara (where there is a great expanse of forest that is fast becoming a fortress for criminals) is becoming an issue of national concern.
“It is also hoped that the presence of a standard military base will serve as a deterrence to these criminals and restore peace and security in the communities in Kogi and Kwara States.
“The urge to construct, furnish, and hand over this edifice to the Nigerian Army is borne out of my commitment to assisting the military in protecting the lives of the citizenry and warding off criminals from our rural communities.”
He noted that the newly completed military base, which he personally financed, contains two hostels containing 85-bed spaces for soldiers, fully furnished with beds, beddings, and all fittings for comfortable human habitation; armoury; furnished office apartments for the Commander of the Military Base, among others.
Also speaking, the governor of the State, Usman Ododo, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Commander Jerry Omadara (retd), said the base would enable the Army to have the security of the area under its control.
He said, “I, therefore, thank Senator Sunday Karimi for this wonderful initiative in the fulfillment of his constituency responsibility. Therefore, the establishment of this Forward Operating Base will serve to form a chain of influx into Kogi State, provide the needed safety for our people, and also allow the Nigerian Army to take firm control of the security of this area, including Yagba East and beyond.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who was represented by the GOC 2 Division, Major General Obinna Onubogu, commended the federal lawmaker for the gesture.
He said, “Let me publicly extend my heartfelt appreciation to the distinguished senator for his tenacity and commitment in spearheading the construction and completion of this strategic facility. As the Chief of Army Staff, I am able to say that it is through this kind of partnership and shared vision that the Nigerian Army is reassured that members of the civil populace appreciate our efforts in covering insecurity across the nation.”
He said the base would help the Army to adequately secure the 10 other states.
Gen. Lagbaja said, “Kogi State is integral to that effort because it is the most central state in Nigeria. The fact that Kogi State is dominated by the most significant river in Nigeria and is surrounded by states from the north-central to southwest, southeast, and south-south, namely Niger, Anambra, Nasarawa, Benue, Enugu, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara States means that Kogi State bears the most impact of any wave of insecurity emanating from River Niger or any of these 10 surrounding states.
“Thus, forward operating bases like this are critical because they help us project our operations to not only the host states but to neighbouring states as well.”
He urged the officers to take advantage of the newly constructed base to train and ensure that none of the adversaries is allowed to operate in the Egbe corridor.
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