The Nigerian Army, 29 Battalion, Port Harcourt, has distributed 10,000 exercise books to primary and secondary schools, palliatives to widows and orphanages in Ebubu and Aleto communities, Eleme Local Government Area of the state.
The move was aimed at fostering a healthy relationship between the military and communities in Rivers to prove the fight against criminal activities.
The battalion under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, handed over the items to the beneficiaries on Friday.
The Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lt.- Col. Ishaya Manga, said the non kinetic approach to tackling criminality in the state was in tandem with the people-oriented philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
Manga said: “It would be recalled that on the 13th of October, 2023, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, flagged off an exercise known as operation still water three here in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
“Part of the exercise is designed to get rid of criminal activities within Rivers State, the exercise is not only conducted by the military alone, other security agencies are also involved in the exercise. The community leaders, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in Rivers State are also part of the operation.
“We have seen that using the kinetic approach alone would not guarantee the successful conduct of this exercise and that was why the non-kinetic approach was also adopted in line with the kinetic approach, so that we can actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.
“Because the Chief of Army Staff have severally expressed his philosophy that his own style of leadership is people oriented. In line with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, under the leadership of Major General J H Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has directed us to select some of those less privileged homes and vulnerable communities to express our hands of non-kinetic activities.”
Manga explained that the initiative started about a month ago, adding that more communities had earlier benefited from the exercise.
He said: “We started this exercise last month, we visited four orphanage homes and distributed palliatives. We have also given palliatives to Obele and Ebubu communities, apart from giving out palliatives, we have distributed 10,000 exercise books of 40 leaves to about seven secondary schools within Rivers State.
“Some of those secondary schools are Ebubu community junior and senior secondary schools, Township Model Primary Schools 1 and 2, World Book Capital City Model Primary Schools and St Cyprian Primary School, Port Harcourt.
“Others are Community Secondary School Egberu, Ndoki, Community Secondary School, Anyama and Community Secondary School Okoloma in Oyigbo Local Government Area.”
Taking delivery of the donated items, the Sister-in-charge of Love Crucified Orphanage home, Aleto, Rev. Sister, Chika Maria expressed gratitude for the kindness shown by the military
She said: “We are very grateful, this is the first time in the history of this establishment we have seen this type of large group of military visiting us. It is a thing of joy and this shows that there is something new that will spring up in Nigeria.”
On her part, a widow in the Ebubu community, Aken Charity, who received the palliatives, prayed to God to bless the military.
She said: “I thank the Army, God bless them for bringing food for us. May God protect them as they go about their work. I thank the Army because we have never seen this kind of thing before, before they used to come but I have never seen them give us food or palliatives, so I thank them so much.”
The Principal of Community Secondary School Ebubu, Mr. Nkara Barine, who received the notebook on behalf of the students, promised to judiciously utilise them.
He said: “On behalf of the students we welcome you. This single effort means a lot to us, especially those who don’t have notebooks and they have the privilege of getting one today. We want more but this one that you have done, we will use it judiciously.”
