Awka—GOVERNOR
Willie Obiano of Anambra State has said that contrary to insinuations in the
social media, the Operation Python Dance recently launched in the
five South
East states by the Nigerian Army was not an army of occupation, arguing that it
was done with the good intention of wiping out crime in the zone.
Pro-Biafra
agitators, including the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, the Movement for
the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and some human rights
groups in the zone had condemned the operation, saying that it was targeted
against the agitators.
They also
argued that it would inflict hardship on the people of the zone, especially
during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
But receiving
the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. General Tukur Buratai at the headquarters of
the exercise located at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka,
Obiano said those condemning the exercise missed the point as the exercise was
to assist the state in fighting crime.
He said: “They
are not Army of occupation as being labeled on the internet. Two and half years
ago, our people were not coming home because of security issues and we formed
Operation Kpochapu, which cleared the state of crime, such that today, Anambra
is the safest state in Nigeria.
“The Army had
always assisted the Joint Task Force we set up and they have not disappointed
us.” While urging the people to cooperate with the operators of the exercise to
sustain the relative peace in the state, the governor observed that it was only
criminals and criminally- minded people that would be afraid of the military
presence.
In his speech,
General Buratai said the exercise was part of the military training programme,
which had been launched in other parts of the country.
Meantime, the
medical team of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army has delivered free medical
services to select communities in the South East region. The team was under the
leadership of the Acting Commander 82 Division Hospital Colonel Olufunke
Kayode. The Garrison Commander 82 Division Brigadier General Olufemi Akinjobi
was at the Nsukka Centre to supervise the event.
The generous
medical outreach was conducted in Okposi, Nsukka and Obinze Communities of
Anambra, Enugu and Imo States. Identified communities of Ohafia and Azia in
Abia and Ebonyi States are also to benefit from the exercise slated for
Thursday 8 December 2016.
VANGUARD
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