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From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa The Nigerian Army has warned sea pirates, crude oil thieves and kidnappers to leave the Niger Delta region, saying it (Army) would continue to dominate the environment. Chief of Army, Lt- Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who gave this charge at the weekend to officers and men of the 16 Brigade in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, mandated them to continue to dominate its Area of Responsibility in its efforts to stem the tide of crime in Bayelsa state and other parts of the Niger Delta region. Gen. Buratai, represented by the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Okon Udoh, at the unveiling of the rehabilitated Oloibiri Oil Well to mark the end of Operation CROCODILE SMILE II urged the Commander, 16 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe to maintain constant patrol and security surveillance to checkmate the activities of criminals along waterways. He commended Aligbe for undertaking the rehabilitation of the Oloibiri which he described as an iconic historical monument that would attract potential tourists to Bayelsa state. According to him what the 16 Brigade has done is part of the Civil-military relations which formed part of the activities lined up as part of the Operation Crocodile Smile 11 in the Niger Delta region. Buratai noted that the Nigerian Army would remain true to its professional calling as the Nigerain Army belongs to Nigerians. “As you know we are gathered to witness one of the civil military relations activities of 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army which is part of Operation Crocodile Smile 11. The Nigerian Army in consonance with the vision of the Chief of Army staff to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles continue to conduct operations and training exercises of course in order to position itself to be able to respond to threats that we have in the country. The threats are so many, cattle rustling, kidnapping, cultism, militancy and in the Niger Delta we have illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft etc. “So Nigerian Army would continue to conduct these operations to combat these threats so that we can have a conducive environment for business activities to take place and for law abiding citizens to go about their lawful duties without let or hindrance. During such operation Nigerian Army go closer to the people because of course in the first place we belong to the people. We belong to Nigerians as an Army that is why it is called Nigerian Army. I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Commander of the 16 Brigade and commend him for this initiative in rehabilitating this place. I also want to use this opportunity to urge him to continue to dominate this area in terms of patrol and security so that the bad boys and criminals can be kept away from here.” |