The military and other security forces will man major roads and criminal hot spots in the Southeast and other parts of the country to ensure a hitch-free Yuletide, the Nigerian Army has said. The Army assured Nigerians who will travel homes during Yuletide not to entertain any fear.
It said the military and other security forces would provide tight security during the festive period and beyond. The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, gave the assurance during a briefing on the successes of Exercises Still Waters III, Enduring Peace III, and Golden Down III, yesterday in Abuja. Nwachukwu said: “The security forces will dominate the Southeast. Our troops will also dominate all roads to ensure security for Nigerians to travel to their various homes during the Yuletide.
“If you look at the country today, it’s not only the army that has deployed troops but other security agencies. That is a signal or deterrent to any criminals. “In the Southeast, we have a joint task force commanded by a Major General. It has other security agencies. “We are giving the assurance that we will dominate all hot spots.
We are giving the assurance to people coming back home that they will be safe. “Although we are aware of soft targets, security is better (now) than what it used to be in the Southeast. “So, everybody, even those in the Diaspora, are free to come back home to celebrate with their loved ones. But aside this, people should be vigilant and report any suspicious persons to security agencies.
“We all have to be up and doing, mentally alert, and say something when we see something. We cannot have absolute security.” Nwachukwu said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, had directed immediate deployment of the 401 Task Force Brigade on major roads in Benue State to curtail activities of bandits and other criminals in the state.
Giving an update on the security situation in the country, the Army spokesperson said troops had killed 13 criminals and arrested 88 others from the period the exercises were launched in October to date. He said troops deployed in the exercises across 20 states maintained an offensive posture, conducting several kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the forms of raids on criminal hideouts and patrols, amongst others. “So far, all the exercises have recorded significant successes,” Nwachukwu said.
