Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has announced the upgrade of the Nigerian Army 20 Battalion in Serti, Taraba, to a special unit for military regimentation and training.

Buratai made this known while fielding questions from newsmen during his visit to the headquarters of the battalion in Gashaka Local Government Area of the state.

He said heightened security situation along the Nigeria-Cameroon border and the imperative of entrenching professionalism in the Army necessitated the upgrade.

Buratai said the Army headquarters would provide the required logistics and post more officers and soldiers to improve the status of the unit.

According to him, the Army was leveraging on the near perfect terrain in Serti, which, is conducive for training and the building of the soldiers’ regimentation.

He said the authorities were working on reviving old practices that entrenched discipline and professionalism in the military.

Earlier at the Emir of Gashaka’s palace, Buratai solicited the support of the public to enable the Army secure the area.

He urged the community to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities as more terrorists escape from their Sambisa enclaves.

On his part, the Emir of Gashaka, Mohammed Sambo, commended the effort of the military in securing the community.

He said the people of the community and soldiers at the 20 Battalion barracks enjoyed cordial relationship.

Sambo assured the Army chief of more cooperation and support of the community.

Buratai is the second Army chief to visit the unit after retired Lieutenant-General Martin-Luther Agwai in twenty-zero-one.