ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has urged Nigerians to jettison their partisan, religious and ethnic differences to join forces with the federal government and security agencies to fight insecurity in the country.
The governor made the appeal at the formal flag-off of ‘Operation Still Waters’.
The event was held at the Forward Operational Base, 16 Brigade Nigerian Army, Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Diri commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya, for the sacrifices being made for the peace and security of the country.
He described the military as the bastion of security and a unifying factor in the country.
Diri said the sacrifices being made by military personnel to keep Nigeria united were worthy of appreciation and encouragement.
The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, applauded officers and men for their gallant efforts in checking violence and criminality in the country despite the operational challenges facing them.
He expressed hope that the exercise operation would help to check crude oil theft, kidnapping, sea piracy and other criminal activities on the waterways in the Niger Delta.
Diri, however, charged the military to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties in order to guard against human rights abuses.
He also used the opportunity to call on the youths to toe the path of peace and refrain from all forms of criminality, noting that Operation Still Waters would not spare anyone who is culpable.
He particularly cautioned the youths against illegal refining of crude oil, sea piracy, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, cultism and other social vices.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Brigade 16 Commander, Brigadier General Oluwarotimi Awolo, said the military exercise was in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to wipe out sea piracy, kidnapping, pipeline destruction among other vices in the Niger Delta.
Awolo said that the exercise was also intended to build robust civil-military cooperation and synergy, with medical outreaches to be carried out in select communities in the operational area.
He assured Bayelsans of the military’s commitment to rid the state of criminals in a professional manner and solicited the support of the government and people.
In his remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. S.G. Mohammed, pointed out that the exercise was simultaneously flagged off in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Akwa-Ibom states.
Represented by the Brig. Gen E.A Agbebaku, the GOC acknowledged the state government’s support, stressing that the exercise would promote inter-agency cooperation between the army and other security agencies in the Niger Delta.