Insecurity: Army Battalion arives in Kwara, heads to Pategi, Omu-Aran

By Ahmed Olayinka

The Nigerian Army has commenced the deployment of additional troops to Kwara State, with one of the five battalions deployed to the state heading to Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara South Senatorial District, THE PRIME NEWS reports.

Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, received the troops on Tuesday at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, where he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the swift response to the state’s security concerns.

The reception was attended by the General Officer Commanding 9 Division, Nigerian Army/Joint Task Force Operation Savannah Shield, Major General Yakubu Yahaya, and the Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.

AbdulRazaq said the arrival of the troops was significant, noting that the state had initially expected the deployment announced by the Chief of Army Staff to take some time.

“We are here to welcome the troops. Our coming here is truly significant because when the Chief of Army Staff announced the deployment of brigades in Kwara, we thought it was something that would take some time.

“We can see that they are now here, hitting the ground running. Another team went to Pategi yesterday to make sure that they locate the new base there for the battalion in Pategi,” the governor said.

The governor disclosed that the newly deployed troops would proceed to Omu-Aran, while another team had already moved to Pategi to identify the location for the establishment of the new military base.

“These troops are going to Omu-Aran. We welcome them to Kwara and appreciate what they are doing. We also appreciate the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” AbdulRazaq added.

THE PRIME NEWS reports that he also commended the President for recently approving improved salaries and welfare packages for military personnel, saying the development would boost the morale of soldiers and enhance their commitment to national security.

“Obviously, we came here with a welfare package, but most significant is the approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in increasing their salaries and welfare packages. That is the major thing,” he said.

The additional military presence is expected to strengthen security operations in Kwara and enhance the capacity of security agencies to respond to emerging threats across vulnerable communities.