President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new Army battalion in Kwara State to strengthen security and tackle banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The battalion will be located in Omu Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, and is expected to boost troop deployment and military operations, particularly in areas affected by kidnappings and bandit attacks.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola.
He described the approval as another demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing security challenges in the state.
The governor thanked President Tinubu for approving the new military formation, saying it would strengthen ongoing counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations.
“We are confident the new battalion will greatly strengthen counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping operations,” he said.
AbdulRazaq also commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for the swift processing of the request, and appreciated the Office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies for their efforts to combat violent crime.
He said security agencies were also carrying out coordinated operations to rescue kidnapped victims and flush out criminal elements from forests across the state.
The approval comes amid renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of Kwara, especially Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area, where residents have alleged repeated bandit attacks.
