The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said army authorities had approved the establishment of a ‘Special Forces Battalion’ Barracks to be located in Okene, Kogi.
NAN reports that Buratai disclosed this on Friday to journalists in Okene after inspecting the proposed site of the new barracks at Okene Secondary School in Okene Local Government Area.
Represented by Maj.-Gen. Ademo Salihu, Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Minna, Buratai said that the new barracks would enhance security of lives and property in Kogi.
He named it ”109 Special Forces Battalion” Barracks, Okene, and said that its establishment was prompted by the strategic importance of Kogi in Nigeria, “being the gateway between the North and the Southern part of the country”.
”So, the Federal Government considers it very appropriate to locate the barracks in Okene in order to ensure the security of the people of this important corridor.
”We all know the importance of security in the development of any nation. If we get the security right, every other thing will fall in place.
”We have done our assessment; we have gone round to a couple of places, and usually there are numbers of consideration such as technical and tactical, that will determine what the location should be.
”We have looked at the facilities and infrastructure of those places, we will go back to army headquarters and our experts will write the final report, and the army headquarters will take the final decision.
”Approval for the barracks has been granted already and what we are here for is just to put effect to that approval. So, you can be assured that it will be as soon as possible,” he said.
