In its attempt to cover more grounds and provides penetrating security, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Toareed Lagbaja, has commissioned a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ehor, Uhumnwode Local Government Area of Edo State.
The COAS who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Obinna Onubogu, expressed gratitude to Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, for his unwavering support towards seeing to the completion of the FOB.
“The FOB started as a very small place without any structure. So, to come here today to see what you have put on ground is something that the Nigerian Army deeply appreciates”.
Commissioned on Thursday, 15th August, 2024, he said it was established on 3rd January 2022, noting that its establishment is a laudable initiative; as it was necessitated owing to the total breakdown of security in the area, which gave birth to recurrent ugly incidences of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and several other criminal activities.
The Army Chief, further stated that the FOB was established, following the burden of insecurity that had been experienced between the Northern and Southern senatorial zones of Edo State.
He assured the Governor and good People of Edo State, that he would use the FOB to ensure that the Nigerian Army (NA) remains more integrated towards achieving her constitutional roles. He went further to state that soldiers deployed at FOB Ehor, as the case in other NA FOBs, will always serve as credible support elements for other security agencies to sustain operational synergy and enable them contribute their quoter in tackling insecurity within the state.
Speaking further, the COAS said, “we want to thank the people of this community, who I understand gave their all, and have shown a lot of enthusiasm to ensure that this project came to be. He also thanked the engineers for their steadfastness and good quality of job done.
He noted that there are several agricultural activities that take place within the area; saying it is gladdening to know that people could go back to their farms with a sense of safety and without fear. The COAS, thanked Governor Obaseki, for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army.
While making his remarks, Governor Godwin Obaseki, expressed his delight towards the establishment of the new FOB. He further stated that the main responsibility of any government is to ensure the security of lives and property of its citizens.
The Governor, further disclosed that Edo State has prioritized security as its first objective, to ensure that the good people of Edo State go about their various businesses without fear. He said, “this FOB, came up as a result of the very terrible security situation of this area. Some years ago, prior to when the FOB was established, you could hardly go this way as we were recording as much as 2 kidnappings everyday. I want to put it on record that the NA is very impactful to Edo State.”
He further thanked the COAS for always being there for the state, and keeping up to the job of securing the entire nation. He recalled that the COAS had also approved another FOB at Sobe, a similar community in the state currently under construction, while soliciting for another at Akoko Edo, where a functional FOB is equally required.
The commissioning ceremony featured the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Engineer Omobola Godwins, Edo State Commissioner for security and safety, Honorable Kingsley Babale and several other top government officials, including traditional rulers and citizens of Ehor and neighbouring communities.
Highlights of the event were, the ceremonial cutting of the commissioning tape, a tour of the facility, official handing over of the FOB to the NA by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
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