The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has officially commissioned a 94-bed Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Egbe, Kogi State. The facility, privately funded by Senator Sunday Karimi of Kogi West Senatorial District, aims to boost security in the region.
Represented by Major General OG Onubogu, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja praised the project’s contribution to enhancing military operations and acknowledged Senator Karimi’s commitment to addressing security challenges. He noted that the new base would be instrumental in curbing criminal activities, including recent kidnappings near Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) in Egbe.
“This facility will significantly enhance security operations along the Kwara and Kogi State borders,” Lagbaja stated, stressing Kogi’s vulnerability due to its location bordering multiple states. He also called for the Kogi State Government to address erosion issues at the base, emphasizing the need for effective use of the facility to combat banditry, gunrunning, and other threats.
Senator Karimi highlighted the persistent insecurity in Nigeria, especially since President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term, with kidnappings and banditry affecting Kogi and surrounding areas. He explained that the base was a personal contribution, not a constituency project, and underscored the need for collaboration between military forces and local vigilantes to secure the region.
The new FOB is equipped with advanced resources, including a commandant office, CCTV, and gun trucks, designed to strengthen military presence and improve regional security.
