Edo Partners Community Leaders As New Army Division Set To Be Ready In Two Weeks

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured that the temporary facility for the operationalisation of the newly established 83 Division of the Nigerian Army will be completed within the next two weeks.

According to Ireporter Online, Okpebholo gave the assurance while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation work at Teboga in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said significant progress had been recorded at the facility, with site clearing, environmental sanitation and structural rehabilitation already underway.

He added that contractors handling the project had promised to deploy additional earth-moving equipment to speed up the work and ensure that the facility is ready within the stipulated period.

The 83 Division is among four new divisions established by President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture and improve the military’s operational capacity.

Commander of the 4 Brigade, Brigadier-General Ahmed Balogun, commended the state government for responding swiftly to the military’s request following directives from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu.

Balogun said substantial progress had been made since an assessment team from Army Headquarters visited and evaluated the facility only a few days earlier. He expressed confidence that the operational base would be established within a short period.

As part of broader efforts to improve security across Edo, Okpebholo also held a strategic meeting in Benin with Okaigheles, the traditional youth leaders in various communities across the state.

The meeting focused on strengthening grassroots intelligence and improving cooperation between community leaders, the Nigerian Police Force, local vigilante groups and other conventional security agencies.

Okpebholo said his administration was committed to protecting residents and urged community stakeholders to promptly report suspicious activities and emerging security threats within their areas.

He stressed the need for communities to prevent criminal groups and external syndicates from establishing operational bases within the state.

The governor also announced a new emergency response framework designed to deploy between five and seven armed patrol vehicles to locations experiencing security distress within five minutes.

He further disclosed plans to provide motorcycles for security personnel to enable them to access remote forest areas where kidnappers and other armed groups may seek refuge.

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, urged the Okaigheles to take their responsibilities as security stakeholders seriously and work closely with law enforcement agencies.

Similarly, Commander of the 107 Air Force Base, Air Commodore Victor Eze, said coordinated security operations were being activated across different sectors to confront criminal activities.

The security officials expressed optimism that the strengthened collaboration between the military, police, community leaders and other security agencies would improve the safety of residents across Edo State in the coming weeks.