By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Edo State Government approved the building of a forward operating military base at Ehor, headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, to help in tackling insecurity bedeviling the area.
Announcing the Governor’s decision, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Andrew Emwanta, told journalists after the weekly State Executive Council Meeting that the decision to build this facility was based on a previous meeting the State Governor had with the leadership of the Nigerian Army; where it was agreed that, to ameliorate the problem of insecurity in the Benin-Auchi axis and environs, there was need for a military base.
The proposed contract sum for the construction of the facility is 648.2 million naira.
According to Wikipedia, “a forward operating base (FOB) is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base that is used to support tactical operations.
“A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported by Main Operating Bases that are required to provide backup support to them.
“A FOB also improves reaction time to local areas as opposed to having all troops on the main operating base.
“In its most basic form, a FOB consists of a ring of barbed wire around a position with a fortified entry control point, or ECP. More advanced FOBs include an assembly of earthen dams, concrete barriers, gates, watchtowers, bunkers and other force protection infrastructure.”
The Benin-Auchi Highway, a federal road leading to the northern part of the country, has featured in crime reports as one of the places notorious for kidnappings and other crimes.
The Edo State security architecture made up of the army, police, the State Security Service and other security agencies have at several times rescued victims from the hideouts of kidnappers in Ehor and neighboring communities.
The kidnappers and armed robbers, who, on assailing commuters, shoot sporadically at vehicles in order to stop the drivers so that they can carry out their heinous crimes, in the process, a number of persons have lost their lives and many injured.
Abducted victims are compelled by the kidnappers to call their loved ones to demand a huge amount of money as ransom.
Indeed, it has been a tale of nightmare for individuals, families and the government.
Recall that on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, hundreds of commuters were stranded on the Benin-Auchi Highway as a result of a protest by angry youths over the activities of kidnappers and armed robbers in the axis.
The protest was sequel to the death of one Miss Ella Williams, a graduate of Architecture from the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, who was reportedly shot dead by alleged kidnappers on her way to school along the Benin-Auchi highway.
The deceased was said to be travelling to Ekpoma to pick her call-up letter – a document used to mobilize Corps members for the one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), when gunmen shot at the vehicle she was in, killing her on the spot, while other passengers were abducted.
A resident in Ehor village, Francis Okhomina, reported the ordeal faced by commuters in the hands of kidnappers.
He said: “Everywhere is blocked. There is no way to pass here since 6am. These Fulani men have been kidnapping people and taking them into the bush. Our people have become scared.
“Two days ago, they shot five people there. Two died and three survived, and they are in the hospital. So our people became angry, and they took over the road. The road users have to go and pass through Ughoneki going to Auchi.”
“The police have tried, the vigilantes have been trying but it seems like these people have better arms; so they cannot do as much as we expect”, he added.
However, with the resolve of Governor Obaseki to mount a forward operating military base in Ehor, the security outlook in the State is positive as the facility will help the military, an institution that has demonstrated unmatched capacity in tackling terrorism, kidnappings and other crimes, in sending the criminal elements out of that part of the State.
Specifically, response rate to distress calls will reduce significantly and the ample space required to strategize with other security agencies, which the military base will provide, will deepen inter-agency collaboration.
Experts contend that no economy can thrive in an atmosphere of fear and chaos; this giant step will attract more investors to that part of the State as the military presence will engender a sense of security in the agrarian communities that produce a large chunk of the food items consumed in the State.
Travelers who connect the northern part of Nigeria through the Benin-Auchi Road will have no reason to entertain any fears of attacks in the days and months to come.
Governor Obaseki deserves commendation for taking up the responsibility of the Federal Government by deploying the State’s resources to protect citizens from criminals.
