INCESSANT ATTACK: House of Reps Order Army To Reconstruct FOBs HQ Now
The House of Representatives has called on the Nigerian Army to step-up and urgently rehabilitate and upgrade its facilities to secure the Forward Operational Base (FOBs) Headquarters of 2nd Division Garrison at Ayete in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
During plenary seating on Thursday, Hon. Muraina S. Ajibola of Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Oyo State, the House as a matter of urgent public importance directs the Nigerian Army and other relevant agencies to immediately provide Infrastructural facilities at the FOBs.
Ajibola explained that Nigeria is presently faced with an unprecedented wave of insecurity ranging from insurgency, banditry, Kidnappings, communal clashes, insurrection, and other violent crimes that have affected most parts of the country.
According to the lawmaker, the crimes have caused wanton destruction of lives and properties, interruption in socioeconomic activities thus, caused several people internally displaced.
He emphasized that the Forward Operational Base HQ of 2nd Division Garrison at Ayete in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State was established to curb the recurring communal clashes, kidnapping activities, armed robbery attacks and senseless murder of citizens coupled with cult activities and general insecurity.
He added that the establishment of the FOBs was a preventive and proactive measure aimed at apprehending perpetrators of these heinous crimes as well as creating a roadmap for peace between warring communities.
He observed that the FOBs have discharged their mandates very well, thus, resulting in the reduction of violent crimes in the areas and expressed concern that despite the sensitive assignment, the FOBs are saddled with troops operating under deplorable conditions due to neglect by the Nigerian Army.
He disclosed that absence of perimeter fencing around the facilities and lack of other vital infrastructure, such as electricity to ease their operations, exposes the officers and equipment to vulnerable attacks and lamented that the current state of the FOBs is a security risk to the Army personnel and the communities where they are assigned, considering the unfortunate incidence of attack on the soldiers in the middle of 2021 in Ayete by unidentified gunmen.
The House consequently resolved urge the Nigerian Army and other relevant Institutions to, as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate the Forward Operational Base HQ of 2nd Division Garrison at Ayete in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State and provide the necessary infrastructure to secure the formations to motivate the troop, enhance their capacity, welfare and forestall attacks and mandate the Committee on Army to ensure compliance and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
