Nigerian Army on Friday gave a
detailed update on its Operation Python Dance in the Southeast, war against
criminals and onslaught against the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its
leader Nnamdi Kanu.
This is contained in a statement
on Friday by Colonel Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division.
The Army revealed that troops
made arrests and recovered numerous dangerous weapons.
The statement also assured that
the operation is not a clampdown on Igbos but a routine one aimed at
safeguarding the region.
It reads in full: “Following the
commencement of Exercise EGWU EKE II on Friday 15th September 2017 in 82
Division Area of Responsibility, simultaneous activities have started in Abia,
Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Cross River States without hitch. The essence
of the exercise is to enhance troops’ preparedness and proficiency in dealing
with emerging security challenges peculiar to the South-Eastern Region, such as
kidnappings, armed robbery, communal crisis, farmers- herdsmen clashes,
cultism, violent agitations and insurgency, amongst others.
One interesting aspect of the
exercise is that, it is multi agency in nature and execution, thus enhancing
synergy of efforts among the Services, Security and response agencies. Relevant
para-military organizations such as the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corp, Department of State Security Service, Federal
Road Safety Commission, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and Nigerian
Immigration Service are all synergizing and collaborating in the exercise to
ensure attainment of these objectives.
Similarly, there are elaborate
humanitarian activities associated with it, hence, the 82 Division Nigerian
Army embarked on free medical services. The first was on Tuesday 18 th
September 2017 at the Adult Education Mass Literacy Centre, Nkwuagu Primary
School Amaagu, Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA ) of Ebonyi State.
The Chief of Army Staff,
Lieutenant General TY Buratai, accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi
State, Dr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division
Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar and the Chief of Training and
Operations Army Headquarters, Major General David Ahmadu and other senior Army
Officers, were personally present at the commencement of the free medical
outreach.
The turnout was impressive, as
over 2,000 people benefited in the areas of dental, optometry, laboratory
services and blood pressure measurements. Others were dispensing of eye
glasses, de-worming tablets, assorted drugs, mosquito nets and sanitizer to
various categories of people.
In the same vein, similar medical
outreach will be conducted at Nnarambia community Central Primary School,
Ahiara Mbaise in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State on 23rd September 2017 as part
of the activities of Exercise EGWU EKE II. The Division has also scheduled
similar free medical outreaches in other states covering its area of
responsibility during the exercise.
Furthermore, in addition to
visiting the Operational Headquarters of Sector 5 of Exercise EGWU EKE II, at
24 Support Engineering Regiment, Abakaliki, the Chief of Army Staff also
visited the Step-Up Headquarters of 82 Division at the Nigerian Army Language
Institute, Ovim, in Isiuokwuato LGA of Abia State.
So far, the troops have been
carrying out routine activities associated with the exercise seamlessly along
with other supporting Services and agencies. Some suspected criminals were
arrested, farmers-herdsmen as well as communal clashes have been averted.
Similarly, kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and other criminal elements have
been denied freedom of action through patrols, raids and manning of checkpoints
as follows:
PATROLS
Following credible intelligence
report and some distress calls from Ukpata community in Uzo-Wani LGA of Enugu
State of a planned attack on the community by Fulani herdsmen on the 19th
September 2017, a patrol team of Sector 3 was deployed in the area from 17th
September 2017 to date. Through that we were able to prevent serious clash
between the Fulani herdsmen and the community.
Similarly, at about 4.30pm on
17th September 2017, troops of Sector 2 on patrol at Ohaji-Egbema general area,
along Obokofia-Agwa, Rombe-Oguta road junction in Imo State, intercepted 2
persons in a vehicle conveying about 15kg of a substance suspected to be Indian
hemp. The suspects and the substance have been handed over to the National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency.
Also troops of Sector 2, Sub
Sector 1, at about 12.00am 19th September 2017, while on patrol along
Onitsha-Owerri road arrested 3 suspected hoodlums; Chisom Francis, Chukwu Enema
and Uchenna Ogataku that barricaded the highway, extorting money and other valuables
from hapless motorists resulting in serious traffic jam. The suspects have been
handed over to Ogbaku Police Station.
RAIDS
Following a tip off, a criminal
hideout was raided at about 12.15am in Obinze community general area on 17th
September 2017. Consequently, 17 suspected criminals were apprehended by troops
of Sector 4. Items recovered include 3 x locally made pistols, 5 Dane guns and
15 rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Other items recovered were local
charms and 7 wraps of substance suspected to be Indian hemp.
Furthermore, at about 1.30am on
17th September 2017, troops of Sector 4 in conjunction with the Nigeria Police
raided a criminal den at Ukukwa North Local Government Area of Anambra State,
where they arrested 7 suspected criminals. Items recovered are; 4 x locally
made pistols, 420 live cartridges, about 50kg of Cannabis and some Charms. The
suspects and the items were handed over to the Nigeria Police.
Similarly, based on intelligence,
troops of Sector 2, at about 12.00am hours on 18th September 2017, conducted 2
raid operations on suspected cultists’ shrines at Awara and Assa communities of
Ohaji-Egbema LGA of Imo State. The raids resulted in the arrest of 10 suspected
cult members. They were however, transferred to the Nigeria Police after
preliminary investigation.
In addition, at about 2.30am on
19th September 2017, troops of Sector 1, raided a notorious kidnappers’ den at
Ohanze community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The operation
led to the release of a kidnap victim, Mr. Monday Benson and the arrest of 3
suspected kidnappers; Arinze Ugiri aged 39 years, from Amouvuro community,
Okezie Nwobolo, aged 30 years, from Amouvuro Nteuzor community and Michael
Sunday 24 years old, from Okeyan Nteuzor village of Abia State. Suspects have
also been handed over to the Nigeria Police after initial questioning.
CHECKMATING VIOLENT ACTIVITIES OF THE BANNED INDIGENIOUS PEOPLE OF
BIAFRA
Despite the initial opposition to
Exercise EGWU EKE II by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra members and
their sympathizers and unpatriotic elements, the general area of the South East
especially Aba in Abia State is now fully stabilized. The usual violent
activities of the outlawed Biafra “National Guards” (manning check points and extorting
money from traders and motorists) have now been checkmated. Similarly, the
outlawed Biafra terrorists group presence is no longer visible and people go
about their normal businesses without fear, let or hindrance.
The 82 Division Nigerian Army wishes
to reassure the public that it is poised to maintaining the peace and security
in the entire South-Eastern Region. Members of the public are please requested
to cooperate with security agencies by remaining law abiding and passing
credible information to the nearest security check point or call 193 and the
various Sector Commanders’ telephone numbers that were earlier made public.”
good one our hard working military men
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