Crime: Ambode, Buratai Unveil New Military Base In Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai on Monday unveiled a new army Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Igbooye, Epe, Lagos, saying it will assist in tackling armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities within the area.
The Governor and the Army Chief who spoke at the commissioning of the operating base said government cannot pay lip service with security of lives and property of the citizenry.
In his remark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, the new FOB which serves to replace the relocated army Barack that used to be in the area, would strengthen the victory already attained against criminalities such as cultism, armed banditry, robbery, kidnapping, among others which he said were once prevalence in Ikorodu-Epe axis.
“If there has been anything our administration achieved in the last three years, that has been in the areas safety and security of the people. At the beginning, the issue of kidnapping used to be at the eastern axis of Ikorodu-Epe. But with the assistance of the security operatives, the Nigerian military in particular, the menace has become a long of the past,” Ambode said.
The Governor also recalled that at the early days of his assumption of office when the menace of kidnapping was rampant in Ishawo area of Ikorodu, saying the Nigerian army worked with the state government to have in place a small military base in the area.
Ambode also revealed that a new FOB will be set up Ikorodu just as he expressed the readiness of his administration to partner on anything that will enhance the safety and security of the residents in the state.
Also speaking, General Buratai said the opening of the new FOB in Epe is one of the strategies being employed to tackle different forms of criminalities such as cultism, kidnapping, gun running, armed robbery and farmer/herders clashes.
He pointed out that the fact that the location is close to the Lagos Lagoon which runs through and link with the South- South region of country makes it essential for army operational activities.
