The Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has said Nigerians owe officers and men of the Armed Forces a debt of gratitude for their frontline bravery and sacrifices in tackling the nation’s security challenges.
Oba Owoade stated this on Thursday while playing host to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, at his palace in Oyo.
In a statement by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin described military officers as gallant because of their continuous sacrifices, frontline bravery and dedication to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity against complex security threats.
“Nigerians owe the gallant officers and men of the armed forces who are sacrificing their lives for a secure, united and prosperous country a debt of gratitude which should be exhibited not only by ceremonial remembrance but also by making concrete efforts to ensure that they did not die in vain,” the monarch said.
Oba Owoade noted that the Nigerian military has a long-standing global reputation for bravery and capability in ECOWAS, African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) peace mission operations, adding that individual acts of professional courage and adherence to institutional integrity by service members reinforce public trust in the uniform.
“The safety of lives and property is germane to national development because it provides the foundational stability required for economic growth, human capital development and social progress. Without security, a nation cannot attract investment, sustain infrastructure, or foster an environment where citizens can safely innovate and work,” he said.
The Paramount Ruler of Oyo Kingdom and Superior Head of Yorubaland pointed out that in contemporary governance, monarchs serve as both custodian of culture and primary custodian of communal peace, stressing that they should also blend traditional authority with proactive, strategic threat management to protect their territories and people.
According to him, true security is built on social cohesion, as “a vulnerable population is easily radicalized or exploited by criminal elements.”
While expressing delight over the deployment of the first batch of troops to the temporary site of the Brigade and Garrison Barracks in Oyo City, Oba Owoade pledged his support and cooperation for the wellbeing of officers and men and a conducive working environment for optimal service delivery.
Earlier, Major General Mahmuda, who assumed command as the 56th GOC on August 3, 2026 at the Division’s headquarters at Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment in Ibadan, taking over from Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, said as a student of history who had read about the history of Oyo Empire, he was glad to be in the ancient city where the history of the empire flourishes.
He disclosed that besides the new barracks in Oyo which would be named Brigade and Garrison, two other new barracks would be established in Kisi in the northern part of Oyo State and Ile-Ife in Osun State.
“That of Kisi to be named Battalion Barracks, while the other in Ile-Ife to be known as Artillery Regiment Barracks. These two barracks would be under the command of Oyo Brigade and Garrison Barracks for supervision,” the GOC hinted.
He expressed appreciation to the Alaafin for the warm reception accorded the monitoring team who had earlier visited the permanent site of the new barracks located at Ote-Efon, and for addressing most of the challenges troops could have faced such as water, public electricity, toilet facilities, accommodation and solar lights.
Major General Mahmuda also announced that more troops would soon be deployed to effectively tackle security challenges and ensure peace and safety of lives and property in the operational zone.
The first batch of troops arrived in the ancient city last Saturday and were accommodated at the temporary site rehabilitated under the supervision of the Personal Assistant to the Alaafin, Reverend Dr. Kolade Oladele.
