He made this announcement on Thursday, 3rd September, during a meeting with civilians and representatives of various security services at the Governor’s residence in Basse. The commitment followed concerns raised by residents who expressed their desire for a military presence in the area.
The CDS’s promise came a day after his site visit to Sare Teneng village as part of his ongoing nationwide tour of military deployments. He revealed that although the post is still undergoing renovation, personnel will be deployed ahead of its completion to mount a checkpoint.
The Sare Teneng Post will become the fourth station under the Basse Military Forces, joining the 3 Infantry Battalion headquarters in Basse, the Fatoto Military Post in URR, and Bravo Company 3 Infantry Battalion at Sambuya in the Central River Region.
Major General Gomez further disclosed that upon his return from the tour, engineers would be assigned to establish a temporary structure to accommodate the deployed officers until full renovations are completed.
The CDS emphasised that the Armed Forces are working towards providing patrol vehicles to various barracks to ease mobility. He urged sister security services to make use of military vehicles for their operations, stressing the importance of collective effort in achieving national security goals.
As the presidential election approaches, Gomez called on civilians to reject tribal divisions regardless of political affiliations. “We are all one people as Gambians,” he reminded, underscoring the need for unity and peace.
Mr Sellou Bah, Alkalo of Basse, highlighted the significance of the annual military tour, noting that it allows proper assessment of the welfare and living conditions of men and women in uniform. He suggested that the tour should be conducted twice yearly to better address challenges and ensure effective service delivery.
Mr Bah also prayed for lasting peace, not only in the Upper River Region but across the nation.
Meanwhile, Yero Mballow, Police Commissioner for URR, commended the smooth working relations among security services and the cordial ties between civilians and security forces.
