The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, has constructed a block of four classrooms with toilets and donated it to College of Arabic and Islamic Studies (CAISO) Idoji, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The COAS also built principal’s office as well as renovations of a block of Assembly hall and staff rooms.

Speaking at the projects’ commissioning on Friday in Okene, the COAS said the gesture was part of the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Intervention projects executed by the Nigerian Army across the country.

The COAS, who was represented by the Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records (CAR), Maj. Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, said Nigerian Army had enjoyed high level of cooperation and goodwill from host communities and the Nigeria citizens.

According to him, the Nigerian Army has over the years taken deliberate steps towards ensuring that it gives back to the society the cooperation it enjoys from them by observing some corporate social responsibilities.

He said it was very much in line with his vision of “a professional Nigerian Army, ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.

”The project being commissioned today is one of the several Civil-Military Cooperation related activities and quick impact projects executed in various parts of the country by the Nigenan Army towards contributing to national development.

”Thus, I believe this project will serve the collective needs of the members of this community and its immediate environs.

”I, therefore want to appeal to you to see this project as a symbol of friendship between the Nigerian Army and your community.

”Let it foster the desired peace, progress and indeed bring prosperity to the community as well,” Yahaya said.

The COAS thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continuous support to the Nigerian Army and for providing the conducive environment necessary to carry out their constitutional mandate.

He further thanked the Minister of Defence Maj. Gen Salihi Magashi (rtd) and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Lucky Irabor for providing direction and support to the Nigerian Army always.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello, the traditional fathers and all the good people of the community for their unrelenting support particularly to the Nigerian Army.

He urged the people to continue to live in peace and harmony and be tolerant of one another, stressing that the Exercise Enduring Peace ll, recently launched in the state was to ensure peace.

Speaking in his own capacity, Igbinomwanhia appreciated the COAS for sponsoring several of those projects in Kogi under his area of responsibility.

On his part, Maj. Gen. Sanusi Dahiru, Director of Administration and Logistics Defence Research and Development Bureau, who executed the projects, thanked the COAS for his passion for education and financial commitment to the reality of the projects.

Dahiru said the project was a way of reaching out to his community noting that his father had so much passion for the school during his lifetime.

In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, HRM Alh. Ado Ibrahim, thanked the COAS for the gesture towards his people, and for ensuring adequate security in the state.

Ohinoyi, who was represented by the Asema Ezuka, HRH Dr Muhammed Isah, said the projects would go a long way in helping the community and the student for effective learning.

The School Principal, Mr Zakarriyau Ahmad, said he was overwhelmed by the executed projects, and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the COAS as well as Maj. Gen. Dahiru.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of souvenirs to dignitaries at the occasion as well as COAS who was the special guest of honour.

End.

The late Army General who was the GOC, 6 Div. recently gave her late mum a befitting last honor. For him to die a few weeks after burying his mother is heart rendering.

Like many outstanding Generals Kogi has produced, the Late Gen. Irefin was a chemistry of brilliance, bravery, courage and inalienable loyalty to the Nigerian nation.

For years, he defended Nigeria as a committed Army Officer and also the integrity of the Army. Nigeria has lost a Green-heart-figher who gave all to his nation and her people.

As we mourn the demise of a son we are proud of, we also commiserate with the Chief of Army Staff as well as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.

The Late General Olubunmi Irefin was not just a brave soldier; but also an accomplished scholar of repute. To this end, the Kogi State Government shall be putting in place, modalities to rename the Government Science Secondary School, Okedayo as Olu Irefin Science Secondary School, Okedayo. This is to inspire a new generation of Kogi youth to embrace hardwork and excellence.

Our hearts are with his immediate family in this dark moment of grief. May God give you all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

May his soul rest in peace.

Kingsley Fanwo

Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications

The Nigerian Army on Monday offered free medical services to the residents of Irepene and Idodenge communities in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Maj. Gen. Bamidele Ogunkale, the Commander, Command Army Records (CARs), while monitoring the exercise at Irepene, told journalists that the gesture was part of activities for the ongoing Field Training Exercise, tagged ”EX AYEM AKPATUMA ll”, in the state.

Ogunkale commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the initiative and for giving the needed support since the exercise began on Nov. 1, saying the military had recorded an appreciable success.

The commander, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, CARs, Brig. Gen. Ayobambo Orukotan, said that the medical service was a civil- military cooperation to assist the residents of the neighbouring communities where the military Super Camps were sited.

”In that spirit, the Nigerian Army Women’s Corps (NAWC) were sent down here to participate in the exercise in collaboration with CARs to offer free medical treatment and give free drugs to patients,” he said

The commander noted that the exercise ”Ayem Akpatuma Il” had recorded a huge success, noting that the military were able to flush out criminals from their hideouts and rid some areas of bandits across Kogi.

He added that the military had also helped to curtail violence during the last Saturday election, while reaffirming the determination of the military to curtail and reduce criminality to the barest minimum in the state.

Also speaking, Lt. Col. Suzan Dibal, the Coordinator, Women Special Operations Battalion, NAWC, Giri, said the women corps were collaborating with headquarters CARs for civil-military relations to offer free medical treatment to people.

”We have to say thank you to our peculier father, the COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who had built women corps and for making women what they are today in the Army.

”The women corps are here to support the medical outreach for the vulnerable women and children including men,” she said.

Dibal also thanked the Commander CARs for making it possible for the NAWC to work together to have the medical outreach.

On his part, the Medical Officer, CARs, Capt. Nurudeen Saka, said doctors were on ground to check blood pressure, random blood suger for diabetes, immunisation for children,

He noted those that could be treated there would be counselled appropriately to go the nearest hospital or come down to the military hospital for treatment.

”We are also giving out free drugs to the elderly; immunization and vitamin supplements to the children and give treated mosquito net to pregnant women and drugs,” Saka said.

He, however noted that the commonest ailments among the residents were malaria and malnutrition, adding that the pregnant women also lacked antenatal care.

Mr Hamzat Shaibu, the Community Leader, thanked the Nigerian Army for coming to their community to offer free medical treatment and free drugs, and pray God to continually protect them in their duty.

A physically challenged mother, Mrs Ife Azeez, whose child was diagnosed of a chronic jaundice, thanked the army for promising to take the child for treatment.

Another beneficiary, Mr Adebayo Shaibu, thanked the army for the gesture, saying he was treated of waist pain and given free drugs.

The residents of Irepene and some neighboring communities, trooped out in their large numbers to benefit from the free medical services.

NAN reports that the exercise AYEM AKPATUM II is being conducted simultaneously in North Central States such as: Kogi, Taraba, Nassarawa, Niger and Benue States from Nov. 1 to Dec. 23.