Major General Harrison Adoga(rtd) has donated his sprawling one-storey edifice in Otukpo GRA to the newly established 35 Artillery Brigade to serve as its foundation headquarters.
In an emotion laden handover ceremony, Gen Adoga referred to the establishment of the 35 Artillery Brigade in Otukpo as a prayer answered, tracing the relationship between Idomaland and the Nigerian Army to its earliest days with the entry of people like retired Gen Ebije Ikwue(former Chief of Air Staff) and late Gen Ignatius Obeya. Many others followed, while Idomaland suffered untold casualty from the unfortunate civil war of 1967 to 1970.
In goodwill messages during the event, many other illustrious sons of Idomaland supported Gen Harrison Adoga by also making donations of various items to ease the commencement of the activities of the Brigade. While Retired Colonel Idu Enonche of the NDA 3rd Regular Course assured the Brigade Commander of full support of all retired military personnel, AVM Emmanuel Ejeh(rtd) donated his GRA house, and the Ward Head of Ewulo, Chief Akatu Ahubi, gave out his Palace in Upu to accommodate the Brigade Commander.
In his own goodwill message, Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, first Senior Advocate of Nigeria out of Benue South, and Founder and Chairman of the Godwin Obla Foundation, promised to build, furnish and deliver a Non-Commissioned Officers Mess to the 35 Artillery Brigade by Easter of 2027 to be named after his father who retired from the Nigerian Army as a Regimental Sergeant Major. Engineer Agaba Ikwue, in addition to a comprehensive renovation of the Brigade Commander’s residence, also promised to build a block of ten apartments for the soldiers. The Chairman of Aojoko k’Otukpo, Dr David Ekwo, welcomed the Brigade and pledged the cooperation of all Otukpo people. General Owoicho Ejiga, the serving son of the first Idoma Major General, Geoffrey Ejiga, and course mate to the new Brigade Commander, also sent a message donating his facility in Otukpo town.
Reacting to the avalanche of donations, the Director of General Studies at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Dr Wadai Mutah, an indigene of Bornu State, said he is a living witness of the love of Idoma people, having been housed by one for nine months free. Dr Wadai expressed the hope that the love shown to the Army by Otukpo people would be replicated by other communities.
In his acceptance speech after receiving the handover letter and the keys of the facility, the visibly highly elated Brigade Commander, Brigadier General J.A Hassan, thanked General Adoga and all donors for their magnanimity, describing the day as his happiest since joining the Nigerian Army, adding that the history of 35 Artillery Brigade will never be complete without details of the event. While promising to write a full report of the positive attitude of Otukpo people towards the Army, he expressed his hope to maintain a mutually benefiting military-civilian relationship. General Hassan however reiterated that as a military they will be decisive in dealing with whatever poses as threats to the peace of their areas of operation. The security agencies in Benue South all pledged their support to the Brigade Commander.
His Royal Highness Och’Otukpo Odu, Chief Dr John Onuminya Eimonye, OON, expressed his happiness with the coming of the 35 Artillery Brigade, pleading the blessings of God and the ancestors on all those who are contributing to the peace of the land.
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