Traditional rulers, council chairman and residents in Irepodun ocal Government, Kwara State, on Tuesday trooped out for the new Army battalion in Omu-Aran, the council headquarters, agreeing that their intervention would boost security in the Southern senatorial district.

They also hailed President Bola Tinubu and the state governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,L for what they described as an optimal security assurance.

At the welcome ceremony for the troops, Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, said the traditional rulers and people of the community were pleased with the establishment of the Army battalion in Omu-Aran under Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. Kehinde Avoseh.

“I want to assure you that our support, especially in terms of the welfare of the battalion, will be 100 per cent, by the grace of God. You will enjoy your stay in Omu-Aran,” the Olomu said.

“We are together by the grace of God. The Lord who has brought us together has done so in peace, and we pray that this development will continue to bring blessings, security and progress to our communities,” he wished.

The monarch also expressed appreciation to the military authorities for ensuring that the location of the battalion was not changed.

The ceremony was attended by array of traditional rulers and community leaders, including the Alara of Aran Orin, Alaran of Arandun, Oloko of Oko Irese, among others.

The Chairman of Irepodun local council, Abdulazeez Yakub, appreciated the Federal and the state governments for the establishment of the battalion.

He assured the Nigerian Army of the council’s full cooperation and support in the discharge of its duties.

“On behalf of the people of Irepodun Local Government, I assure you of our full cooperation and support as you carry out your duties,” he said.

He added: “we are particularly grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for responding decisively to the security concerns of the people of Kwara South and Omu-Aran in particular.

“This intervention is a significant demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians and restoring peace, confidence and economic stability to the communities,” he stated.

Also, the President of Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), Prince Niyi Adeyeye, said the deployment of the battalion to Omu-Aran would restore peace and security to the entire Kwara South.

Adeyeye commended security agencies, local vigilantes and community security volunteers for their courage, dedication and sacrifices in protecting the communities.

A community leader and retired Major General, Lasisi Abidoye, acknowledged the joint efforts of Tinubu and AbdulRazaq towards the establishment of the new battalion and assured officers and men of the Army deployed to Omu-Aran of maximum support to carry out their duties.

Earlier, the Commander of 22 Armoured Brigade, Brig Gen. Nicholas Rume, commended the residents for the warm reception accorded the officers and soldiers.

He said the deployment was part of the Federal Government‘s directive to expand the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity across the country.

“It’s a very remarkable day for all of us, and we all know that as part of the President’s Strategic Directive, the Nigerian Army is expanding. The Chief of Army Staff, on his own part, to achieve his strategic vision, has deployed his battalion here to take care of security incidences in the whole of Kwara South.

Rume thanked residents of Omu-Aran axis for their support to the Army.

“I sincerely appreciate everybody for coming out. This is really surprising. I was just expecting to come and start cleaning our rooms and entering. We didn’t know that anything of this was being planned. So, thank you everybody for coming out,” he said.

“To my soldiers and officers out there, you can see the kind of support you already have on coming here. So I don’t think that the task would be difficult. When you have the people on your side, I think 75 per cent of the job is done,” he assured.