By Vincent Ucheibe, Enugu
The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai has assured the south easterners of their safety during exercise Atilogwu-Udo1 which will kick off on November 1 saying that the exercise is not targeted at any group of persons within the region but rather aimed at curbing the security threats within the region.
General Buratai who was Represented by the Chief of Training/Operations, Nigerian Army, Major General E. O. Udo, made this known during a two day Civil-Media-Military Relations Summit held at the headquarters 82 Division Enugu, tagged ‘Galvanizing citizens support for Military operations in Nigeria through the Media’.
The summit which had in attendance the Executive Governor of Enugu state Rt Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Simon Otuanya, the traditional rulers and some elder statesmen including Chief Pete Edochie, Chief Chika Okpala (Zebrudia) among others was aimed at correcting the wrong perceptions held by some segments of the society concerning some of the exercises like that of the previously held Egwu Eke.
The Chief of Army Staff maintained that Exercise Atilogwu Udo and similar exercises being organized by the Nigerian Army across the nation are solely aimed at protecting the lives and property of innocent citizens and not the other way round.
He went further saying that the reason for the exercise at this time is to ensure maximum security of the south easterners during the Christmas season.
According to him, “The exercise is strategically slated to be carried out during the yuletide season when there is upsurge in criminal activities”.
He said that before the exercise Egwu-Eke in November 2016 that the south eastern zone had been taken hostage by kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists etc, a situation that had scared them away from their homes during the festive periods.
He added that the exercise will also help bring the military closer to the masses through their services like that of healthcare , education and road constructions.
