The Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi has urged the Chief Of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, to convert the 244 army battalion at Shaki, to a full Brigade.
The traditional ruler made the call when he and some traditional rulers from Okeogun visited the army headquarters in Abuja.
He noted that the need to upgrade the military unit became necessary to address the security challenges in Saki, which shares a border with Benin Republic.
The Okere commendethethe Nigerian army for its relentless efforts at tackling insurgency, bandits, kidnapping and other violent crimes and at the same time ensuring the safety and lives of all Nigerians, said but for the army, criminals would have overrun the country with their deadly activities.
While praying for a speedy end to the insecurity bedeviling the country, the royal father prayed God to protect the officers and soldiers engaged in various security operations across country and called on Nigerians to support the military rather than condemning them.
He appealed to the army chief to help construct some of the dilapidated roads in the community, provide portable water for the people and construct a befitting army children’s school for the educational upliftment of the people.
He commended the army for some of its developmental projects in the community which include the provision of an army school, establishment of the 244, battalion among other development and called for more of such projects in the community.
He also promised to provide a vast land for the army to establish a ranch in their community saying that way the youths would be adequately employed and reduce restiveness amongst the.
In his address, the COAS, represented by the Chief Of Policy and Plans(COPP), Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, thanked the delegation for the visit and promised to assist the community through its civil military relations department.
However, on the request to establish a Brigade in the community, Buratai, said it was not an easy task as it involves a lot of planning, logistics, finance among other requirements.
