The Nigerian Army has announced the creation of a unit in Daura, Katsina State, the home town of President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is coming on the heels of the rumoured attempt by the military to overthrow the democratically elected government.
According to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on Friday, who announced that the Forward Operation Base, named after the President and controlled by the Nigerian Army’s 1 Division area of responsibility, will enhance security in the area.
A statement by the army also revealed that Buratai paid a courtesy call to the Emir of Daura, Faruk Umar, after he announced the creation of the base, the Punch reports.
He said, “The establishment of the new unit was part of the implementation of the Nigerian Army approved Order of Battle 2016 (ORBAT 2016) by the Army council.
“Prior to that, the CAOS was also at the Palace of his Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Faruk Umar, the Emir of Daura, for a courtesy call.”
While it isn’t clear why the military urgently needed a base in the president’s hometown, there has been a previous rumour of a planned coup in 2016 which prompted General Buratai to summon top military commanders to an emergency meeting.