By: Babagana Bukar Wakil Ngala
The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has on Friday flagg off special operation tagged “operation Egwu Eke III ” meaning Operation Python Dance in igbo Language respectively which established across the country to address any form of violence in the buildup of next year general elections without any hindrances
Buratai, stated this during the flagging off ceremony of the “Exercise Egwu Eke iii ” at the Military Control and Command Centre, Headquarter of operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri , the Borno state capital , northeast Nigeria Friday.
General Tukur Buratai who was Represented by the Chief of Training and Operations Army, Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, said as the 2019 general elections gathers momentum , an upsurge of security challenges such as stockpiling of arms by criminal groups , formation of ethnic militias and , kidnapping ,violence induced by political activities has been observed.
The Nigerian Army will continue to conduct internal security operations in combating criminality and other security challenges in the country, in line with its constitutional mandate of military Aid to Civilian Authority.
These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry portend those dissident groups and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate large scale violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections,” he assured
The Army Boss recalled that the Army decided to reintroduce the operation ” Egwu Eke” which is an Igbo phrase meaning ” Python Dance ” previously conducted in 2016 and 2017 respectively in the southeastern region of the country because of the positive result it yielded in checkmating the security challenges being witnessed in the region then.
” The successes recorded so far in all conducted Nigerian Army level exercises is in fulfilling both training and operations objectives of the Nigerian Army . I also believe Exercise “Egwu Eke iii” with its mandate of combating the upsurge of security challenges as we approach the 2019 general elections will be a success.
The General called on the good people of great nation Nigeria, to provide the men and women in uniform adequate support especially timely Information to enable them delivers on the mandate of Exercises “Egwu Eke 111″
“I want to also reaffirm the commitment of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our country.” Buratai said.
Adding that Nigerian Army is in control of Baga town and they had taken necessary steps and made some adjustments
Speaking to journalist briefly the Director Army Public Relation Brigadier General Sani Usman Kuka Sheka express confident that Baga town is under control of Nigeria Army.
Kuka Sheka Added that they urged the resident of Baga should calm down and the situation is under control
Despite the situation there was no local or international media ever allowed or even interestingly made an attempt to visit Babag unless some foreign media had an interview with some escapees rests still defend on the information made available to the press and public by the army .