Gombe gov pledges support for accelerated take-off of new Army formations

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has assured the Nigerian Army that his administration will do everything within available resources to ensure that the newly created Army formations in the state begin operations without further delay.

Inuwa Yahaya gave the assurance when he led representatives of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Armoured Division, Jos, on a courtesy visit to the palace of the Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammadu.

Represented by the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the establishment of 271 Battalion in Bajoga and 272 Battalion in Kaltungo, respectively.

He observed that both Army formations are essential to the maintenance of peace and security, especially in a region bedevilled by insurgency and other crimes and criminality.

The Governor further commended the present administration at both national and state levels for facilitating the conversion of the Snakebite Hospital, Kaltungo, into a National Snakebite Research Centre.

The Governor also commended the Mai Kaltungo for his unwavering commitment to the development of the chiefdom, noting that during his reign the chiefdom has continued to witness developmental strides of immense significance to the people.

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The representative of the General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division, and Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe, Colonel S.O. Bike, explained that the newly established Army formations in the state follow the expansion of the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 Divisions.

Bike, who doubles as team lead of the Technical Assessment Team, stated that their assignment is tailored towards interfacing with the Gombe State Government on the full commencement of operations of 27 Armoured Brigade and its sub-units, which include 27 Armoured Brigade Garrison, and the 271 and 272 Tank Battalions, respectively.

The Commander, 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe, said that as part of the team’s mandate, they were in Kaltungo to inspect facilities provided for use by the newly established 272 Tank Battalion, expressing gratitude to the Gombe State Government and the Mai Kaltungo for their unwavering commitment.

The Mai Kaltungo, Engr. Saleh Mohammed, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Inuwa Yahaya for facilitating the establishment of strategic Federal Government institutions in the chiefdom.

He pledged the support and cooperation of the people of Kaltungo to the newly established 272 Tank Battalion of the Nigerian Army.

The team then visited a proposed temporary site, a private boarding school, where the Technical Assessment Team expressed satisfaction with the site and thanked the Mai Kaltungo and his people for their promptness in securing a temporary location for take-off, as well as identifying 90 hectares of land and housing for officers’ accommodation, as contained in a statement signed by Joshua Danmallam, Information Officer, SSG’s Office.