The Nigerian Army has intensified its community engagement efforts in Kwara South with a medical outreach in Erin-Ile, where the Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye Adetona I, pledged stronger community support for troops operating in the region.
The traditional ruler made the commitment during the third day of the Nigerian Army Medical Outreach in Erin-Ile, Kwara State, describing the Army’s intervention as evidence of its concern for the welfare of host communities.
Oba Adesoye, while delivering his vote of thanks, said the people of Erin-Ile would continue to support the Nigerian Army with prayers and cooperation as troops confront banditry and other criminal activities in Kwara South.
He described the Army as a friendly force that had demonstrated concern for the communities where its personnel operate, assuring that Erin-Ile would continue to maintain a positive relationship with the military.
The monarch’s remarks highlighted the community dimension of the Army’s security efforts, with local cooperation regarded as an important component of the military’s broader engagement with communities affected by insecurity.
The medical outreach, organised by the Nigerian Army’s Department of Civil-Military Affairs, forms part of the service’s non-kinetic activities aimed at strengthening relations between troops and civilian populations.
Through the initiative, residents of Erin-Ile and surrounding communities are being provided access to medical services while also given an opportunity to interact with military personnel outside the context of security operations.
Representing the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaib, at the event, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs, Army, Major General Musa Awwal Etsu-Ndagi, expressed appreciation to Oba Adesoye for attending the programme alongside his high chiefs and members of the community.
Etsu-Ndagi said the presence of the traditional ruler and the large turnout of residents demonstrated the importance attached to the Army’s engagement with the people.
The outreach is part of the Nigerian Army’s continuing medical intervention programme in Kwara South, designed to complement its kinetic operations with humanitarian and community-oriented initiatives.
The Army has increasingly used such non-kinetic engagements to build confidence among host communities, promote mutual understanding and create an environment in which security agencies and residents can cooperate more effectively.
For Erin-Ile, the monarch’s pledge of continued support provides an additional platform for cooperation between the traditional institution, residents and security agencies in efforts to address banditry and other criminal activities in Kwara South.
