Soldiers in Gombe decry state of barracks

WORRIED by the continuous stay of officers and men of the 301 Artillery Regiment (General Support) situated in Gombe among civilian residents over the years, soldiers of the regiment have decried situation and appealed for immediate completion of the barracks for security reasons.

The Soldiers, therefore, appealed to the Gombe State Government to reactivate the full construction of the new Barracks along Yola road to solve some of their accommodation problems.

Commander of the 301 Artillery Regiment (General Support) of the Nigerian Army, Gombe, Col. Ali Garba Fagge made the appeal while marking this year’s West African Social Activities (WASA), held in its barracks in Gombe town.

He said that the Regiment is accommodated in two locations of Gombe and Bauchi but that in Gombe, apart from the fact that officers do not reside together with soldiers in the barracks, they also have to pair up in rented flats in town in the midst of civilians a development he said is a security risk.

According to him, “I want to use this medium to plead with His Excellency, the Gombe State Governor to reactivate the full construction of the new Barracks along Yola road to solve the problem of accommodation for officers and soldiers of this Regiment”.

Ali Garba Fagge enumerated some of the Regiment’s achievements within the last one year to include the arrest and handing over of ten suspected Boko Haram members, prominent among them are two highly profiled suspects from the Nigerian Army wanted list.

He explained that the Boko Haram members were disguised as tricycle (keke) riders within Gombe metropolis but intelligence expertise of the soldiers led to their arrest.

He described WASA as an annual event in the Nigerian Army which has come to stay and that it brings the families of officers and soldiers together to celebrate the end of 2017 and usher in the activities of the new year 2018.

“Your Excellency Sir, we are here to celebrate not only WASA but also the achievement of 301 Artillery Regiment (GS) and the peace we are enjoying in Gombe State,” Col. Garba Fagge stated.

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Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Charles Iliya assured that the State Government will continue to support the army and other security agencies in the State in the maintenance of peace.

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He said the celebration of WASA has clearly shown that the army is not only about war and fighting but that it can create an atmosphere where they can meet and socialise with the civil populace.

He commended the Nigerian Army for the maintenance of peace in Gombe State and the improvement of peace in the North-East and Nigeria as a whole.