Nigerian Army Initiates Educational and Infrastructural Outreach in Nasarawa
The Army's intervention follows the unfortunate events in May 2023 when over 30 farmers, including women and children, were killed in the district, leading to a significant exodus of residents.
AKACHI NOEL 
In a bid to address the aftermath of insecurity challenges in Nasarawa state, the Nigerian Army, led by Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, undertook a comprehensive initiative. The Army distributed educational items to students and commissioned two solar-powered boreholes in Gitata and Taka-Lafia communities in the Gitata district of Karu local government area.
Lt. Gen. Lagbaja, represented by Major Gen. Emmanuel Ejim-Emekah, Director of Operations, inaugurated the outreach program. The entourage included Col. Adebisi Onasanya, Nigeria's Army Commander of Guards Brigade, and other senior officers from the Army Headquarters.
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The Army's intervention follows the unfortunate events in May 2023 when over 30 farmers, including women and children, were killed in the district, leading to a significant exodus of residents.
Expressing sadness over the situation, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja emphasized that the outreach program and the boreholes' commissioning were part of the Army's Civic Military Cooperation project 2023. The projects aimed to provide essential needs such as water and educational support to the affected communities.
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At Government Secondary School, Gitata, Lt. Gen. Lagbaja called on students to reciprocate the gesture by excelling in their education. He highlighted the significance of the Army's presence in ensuring security and encouraged the community to make good use of the newly constructed and rehabilitated boreholes.
Col. Adebisi Onasanya appreciated the Chief of Army Staff's approval for the projects and stressed the importance of Civil Military Cooperation activities in impacting community lives positively. He urged residents to provide timely information to security agencies to sustain law and order.
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Lt. Col. Auwalu Inuwa, Commanding Officer of 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi, explained the selection criteria for the interventions. Gitata Secondary School was chosen for educational support due to its dilapidation and lack of materials for over 800 students. Taka-Lafia community received the water intervention to encourage the return of predominantly farming residents.The projects included a solar-powered borehole with two 3000-liter overhead tanks and the refurbishing of a non-functional manual borehole that had been in disrepair for over two decades.
Local authorities, represented by Mr. James Thomas, Chairman of Karu LGA, and Alhaji Turaki Rabo, Sangarin Gitata, expressed gratitude for the interventions. Representatives from the communities pledged to make good use of the educational materials and boreholes.Noteworthy events during the outreach included the conferment of the title "Jagaban of Gitata" on Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and the naming of a newborn baby boy "Inuwa" after the Commanding Officer of 177 Guards Battalion, Keffi.
