The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, at the inauguration and handing over of One thousand capacity Town Hall built by the Nigerian Army for Akinmoorin Community in Afijio Local Government Area, Oyo State, on Friday, reassured Nigerians of the commitment of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to contain the ravaging insecurity in the country.
General Yahaya stated that “the Nigerian Army and other security agencies are working assiduously to rid Nigeria of criminals and all other forms of insecurity challenges facing the country.”
The Chief of Army Staff emphasized that the inauguration of the Town Hall project was part of several Civil Military Cooperation-related quick projects at winning the hearts of people and getting supports that would be useful in winning the war against insecurity.
General Yahaya had stated: “In line with my vision of having a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish an assigned mission in defence of Nigeria to pursue this mission, there is need to pay attention to non-kinetic aspects of our operations in order to eradicate insecurity.
“For us to win in our operations and eradicate insecurity, we need the cooperation of the people when conducting operation.
“We need information and it is this information we annex that we use in our operations.
“The aim of this project is to attract the host communities so that they can get closer to us and provide us information to facilitate our jobs for the benefit of all.
“The Nigerian Army has enjoyed and hope it would continue to enjoy the cooperation of the good people of Akinmoorin in Oyo State and Nigeria at large, in surmounting the security challenges in Nigeria.”
He urged residents of Akinmoorin Community to take the project as a symbol of friendship between them and the Nigerian Army to foster the desire peace, progress and prosperity of the community and Nigeria in general.
The Facilitator of the project, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Akinjobi, Army Chief of Operation, an indigene of Akinmoorin, said that the Town Hall has been the dream of the community in the last 30 years.
Akinjobi said that the 1000-seater capacity hall has other features such as the gallery, offices, Guest House, changing rooms, among others.
He appreciated the COAS for the support in realisation of the dream of the community.