Writing By Ismai’l Adamu; Editing By Godwin Duru
The 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Katsina, has distributed bags of assorted fertilizer to farmers in six communities across Jibia and Katsina Local Government Areas neighboring Natsinta Barracks.
While handing over the NPK and Urea fertilizers to the village heads of Natsinta, Katoge, Garke, Dan-negaba, Unguwar Sarkın Aiki and Tsangaya, the brigade’s commander, Brigadier General Babatunde Omopariola said the gesture was aimed at strengthening civil-military relations in the state.
He noted that the Brigade carries out routine social responsibility gestures for the host community which include medical outreach, admission quota into the military primary and secondary school and assistance to farmers.
Gen. Omopariola said the intervention was in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s directive to army formations to maintain cordial relationship with their host communities towards more effective civil-military cooperation.
While describing security as a collective responsibility, the brigade commander solicited continued cooperation from the communities, in the areas of surveillance and information sharing to enable the military to effectively secure the state.
Speaking on behalf of the host communities, the village head of Katoge, Malam Abubakar Bala, said the fertilizer will be used by farmers in the predominantly agrarian villages to boost their farming activities.
He explained that the communities around Natsinta Barracks enjoy many benefits from the military command which secures the area and carries out educational, health and agricultural interventions to improve the welfare of the host communities.
“All my children are attending the primary and secondary school in this barrack and we enjoy the very cordial relationship between us and 17 Brigade, this barrack has been here for over fifty years.
“We also provide maximum cooperation to them because we know that their operations are aimed at providing security for the host community and the entire state”, Malam Bala said.
Isma’il Adamu
