launches ‘Operation Still Waters’ in Southwest
The 302 Artillery Regiment General Support of the Nigerian Army has launched ‘Exercise Golden Dawn’, to provide security in the Anambra and other Southeast states amid attacks by unknown gunmen.
Exercise Golden Dawn, according the Commander 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) Col. Abdulkarim .B. Usman, in the welcome address he presented at the flag off ceremony at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area, is apart from serving as an avenue to combat insecurity in Anambra State, and foster inter agency cooperation, it’s also a routine training exercise in various geopolitical zones of Nigeria and South Eastern States.
According to him, the rise of insecurity across the country has made it imperative that the Nigerian Army comes to the aid of civil authority in joint environment, adding that the exercise which commenced on October 4th to end on December 23rd, 2021, is meant to train command and staff of combat arms and services in planning and conduct of Military Operation Other Than War, MOOTW, to confront security challenges within their area of responsibility in conjunction with other security agencies.
“The military will use the golden opportunity in conjunction with other security agencies to curb the existing security threats in Anambra State. The threat ranges from secessionist agitations, by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN),” he said.
“Others are banditry, kidnapping, cultist activities, land disputes clashes, communal clashes, chieftaincy issues clashes, assassinations and youths restiveness. To curb these countless security challenges, a robust posture in what the unit has always maintained”
Col. Usman thanked the troops and other security agencies for the tremendous effort in keeping Anambra State safe and secure, adding that more needs to be done to combat the highlighted security threats in the state.
He further disclosed that the Regiment under the leadership of Major General T. A Lagbaja is currently undergoing unprecedented changes. The Regiment and indeed 82 Division have continued to benefit immensely from the Chief of Army Staff, COAS transformational drive.
“Remarkable improvements have been recorded, particularly in the refurbishment of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, procurement of new platforms, upgrading of training facilities and construction of new accommodation for officers and soldiers among others.
“These transformational efforts have greatly enhanced the welfare and operational capabilities of the troops. It is therefore my fervent hope that the exercise will record successes.”
He urged all the sister security agencies and the people of Igbariam community to participate and cooperate with them for the success of the Exercise.
The Caretaker President General of Igbariam Community, Chief Anthony Obueh, who led elders of Igbariam community to the flag off ceremony, said that the presence of the Military in the community has given them confidence that there will be absolute peace and security in the state, the community and its environs.
He promised that they will give the military all the cooperation they need to make the exercise a success.
Similarly, the Army launched ‘Operation Still Waters’ to tackle kidnapping and other security challenges Southwest of the country.
The exercise, which began on Monday, would run through December in states under the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, namely, Edo, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo.
Launching the exercise in Ibadan, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Gold Chibuishi, said the operation was “to boost troops’ ability to tackle the current security challenges in Nigeria.”
Mr Chibuishi said the army would collaborate with other security agencies to address the security challenges in the states under the division.
“The operation will be based on real-time operation to checkmate criminality and strengthen civil/military relations between security and people of the states under the division areas of responsibility.
“Other operations currently being launched in other zones are Exercise Enduring Peace in the North Central and Exercise Golden Dawn in the South East and parts of South-South.
“These exercises are expected to be conducted concurrently with other operations in the North East and North West,” Mr Chibuishi said.
In his remark, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, represented by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, urged the army to synergise with other security agencies and the public.
The state commissioner of police, Ngozi Onadeko and representatives of customs, NDLEA, air force, NSCDC, FRSC, among others, were present at the launch
