The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has pledged his administration’s support for the immediate take-off of the newly established 271 Tank Battalion in Bajoga and 272 Tank Battalion in Kaltungo.
Yahaya made the commitment on Thursday when representatives of the General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division, Nigerian Army, paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammed.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of Gombe State, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, said the state government would provide necessary support within its available resources to facilitate the commencement of operations by the new formations.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for approving the establishment of the two battalions, describing them as important additions to security efforts in the state and the North-East.
According to him, the new formations would strengthen the maintenance of peace and security in a region facing insurgency and other forms of criminality.
Yahaya also commended the Federal Government for converting the Snakebite Hospital, Kaltungo, into the National Snakebite Research Centre, describing the development as significant to the state and the country.
The governor praised the Mai Kaltungo for his commitment to the development of the chiefdom, noting that the traditional ruler had contributed to its continued growth.
Earlier, the representative of the GOC, 3rd Armoured Division, and Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe, Col. S.O. Bike, said the establishment of the new formations followed the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions.
Bike, who is also the Team Lead of the Technical Assessment Team, said the team was in the state to work with the government on the full commencement of operations of the 27 Armoured Brigade and its sub-units.
He listed the sub-units to include the 27 Armoured Brigade Garrison, 271 Tank Battalion and 272 Tank Battalion.
“We are here to interface with the Gombe State Government on the full commencement of operations of 27 Armoured Brigade and its sub-units,” Bike said.
He said the team had also visited Kaltungo to inspect facilities provided for the temporary take-off of the 272 Tank Battalion.
Bike commended the state government and the Mai Kaltungo for their support, particularly efforts to provide a temporary location for the battalion.
At the palace, the Mai Kaltungo expressed appreciation to Tinubu and Yahaya for supporting the establishment of strategic Federal Government institutions in the chiefdom.
He pledged the cooperation of the people of Kaltungo to the Nigerian Army and the newly established 272 Tank Battalion.
The Technical Assessment Team later inspected a proposed temporary site at a private boarding school and expressed satisfaction with the facility.
The team also acknowledged the efforts of the Mai Kaltungo and his people in securing the temporary site, identifying 90 hectares of land and providing housing for officers’ accommodation.
The development is expected to facilitate the early commencement of operations of the new Army formation in Kaltungo.
• Joshua Danmalam, Information Officer, SGS office.
Photo credit: Isaac Fotos
