Gov AbdulRazaq Thanks Tinubu as New Army Battalion Heads to Kwara to Tackle Banditry

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Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of a new army battalion in the state, describing it as a major boost to ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.

The new battalion is set to be sited in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, a location strategically positioned to strengthen military presence in parts of the state that have grappled with security threats in recent times.

In a statement issued in Ilorin by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood AbdulRafiu Agboola, Governor AbdulRazaq said the new military formation would commit more personnel and hardware to the task of neutralising security threats across the state. He explained that the addition of the battalion is expected to significantly strengthen the state's overall security response, particularly with regard to banditry and terrorism, two challenges that have continued to test security architecture in parts of Nigeria's North-Central region.

The governor specifically expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for what he described as the swiftness with which the Army processed Kwara State's request for additional troops. According to the statement, AbdulRazaq noted that the speed of the Army's response reflected a genuine commitment to strengthening security in the state, an outcome he said the state government had been actively pursuing.

Beyond the Army's contribution, the governor also acknowledged the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), commending its role in coordinating broader security efforts. He extended his gratitude to other security agencies as well, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, praising what he called their gallantry in the ongoing campaign against terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes affecting communities within the state.

Speaking further on behalf of the Kwara State government and its people, AbdulRazaq thanked President Tinubu directly, framing the establishment of the battalion as yet another promise fulfilled by the Federal Government toward the state. He expressed confidence that the new battalion would go a long way in reinforcing counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across various security theatres within Kwara, particularly in rural and forested areas that have historically been vulnerable to criminal activity.

The governor also highlighted what he described as other discreet, multi-agency efforts by the government aimed at eliminating kidnapping activities in the state. He said these coordinated operations were designed to free victims of abduction and clear forested areas of criminal elements that have used such terrain to evade security forces and carry out attacks on residents and travellers.

The announcement of the new battalion comes against the backdrop of continued government efforts across Nigeria's North-Central states to strengthen military and security presence in response to banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crime that have affected rural communities in recent years. Kwara State, like several of its neighbours, has seen periodic security challenges linked to armed groups operating within forested and less accessible parts of the state.

By securing the establishment of a full army battalion, Kwara joins a growing list of states that have received similar military reinforcements as part of the Federal Government's broader strategy to decentralise troop deployment and improve response times to security incidents across the country. Analysts often note that permanent military formations, as opposed to temporary deployments, tend to provide more sustained deterrence against criminal groups, since they allow for continuous surveillance, faster response times, and stronger community engagement between security forces and local residents.

For Governor AbdulRazaq, who has consistently pushed for stronger federal security support since assuming office, the new battalion represents a significant milestone in his administration's security agenda, one he credits directly to the responsiveness of the Tinubu-led Federal Government and the Nigerian Army's leadership.