A security exercise which started in Abia State with a fatal clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and military personnel has ended around a night campfire, reports SUNNY NWANKWO
it was called Egwueke, Igbo for Python Dance, but when the gyration started no one was smiling or in any joyous mood. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a secessionist group, was in disarray. Some of its members were reportedly killed by invading soldiers. Its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, disappeared. The entire Southeast shook, forcing the state governors to proscribe the organisation. There was more. The military equally labelled IPOB a terrorist group, a position that was ratified by a court in Abuja.
It is unclear how many in the region will be willing to see a repeat of that sort of dance.
Thankfully, Python Dance II ended in a celebratory mood on a busy evening at the 14 Brigade Ohafia, Abia State. Friends and well-wishers including heads of security agencies teamed up with military personnel at a campfire in Umuahia, the state capital. It was the end of Python Dance II one month after it began.
On September 14, the Army announced that it was going to carry out a one-month-long routine exercise in the five states of the Southeast.
Egwueke II, according to the army, was to address insecurity in the region caused by kidnapping, militancy, child theft, cultism, child trafficking, and armed robbery, among others.
The exercise, which held between September 15 and October 14, came at a time IPOB and its leader Nnamdi Kanu were having a running battle with personnel of the Army. Residents of the region questioned the timing of the exercise and the ‘militarisation’ of the Southeast and Abia in particular.
The invasion of Nnamdi Kanu father’s home and the killing of some IPOB members by soldiers attracted wide condemnation. Some even alleged that Python Dance was targeted at IPOB members who were insisting the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State should not hold.
The Egwueke operation was initiated by the military based on the gains of the phase I of the exercise in 2016 which lasted throughout the festive periods till early January of 2017.
The exercise was rounded off at the tactical headquarters of Egwueke Sector 1 and 145 Battalion Command Headquarters in Umuahia on October 14 with a campfire ceremony.
The ceremony was presided over by the representative of the Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Adamu Baba Abubakar. It attracted the presence of Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, represented by his principal secretary Mr. Emmanuel Nwabuko, 14 Brigade GOC Brig. Gen. Abdul Khalifa Ibrahim, chairman of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Ginger Onwusibe, NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Francisca Ifiong, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Michael Ogbizi and heads of other security agencies and leaders of the Muslim community led by Chairman, Southeast and South-South Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council, Alhaji Sariki Danladi Yaro.
The spokesman of the Army Headquarters, 82 Division, Enugu, Col. Musa Sagir said, “Due to sustained military line of operation, many criminals such as armed robbers, kidnappers, drug barons, cultists and violent agitators were arrested and handed over to the police across the Southeast region.
“Some fizzled out of the zone to neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom, Delta and Rivers. So far, a total of One Hundred and Six (106) suspects were arrested for different offences, in different areas across the South East and all were handed over to police in the various police commands across the region.
“In Imo State, Eighty-Six (86) suspects with the exhibits recovered at the time of their arrest were handed over to the State Police Command at different periods. In addition, Twenty-six (26) assorted arms and some quantity of cartridges were recovered in the State.
“In the same vein, in Sector 1, 14 Brigade jurisdictions (Abia State), Fifteen (15) suspects, – suspected to be involved in robbery (7), kidnapping (2), and drug (6) related cases were arrested and handed over to the police for further action. Also, a total of Eleven (11) assorted arms; 1 AK 47 rifle, 2 Pump action guns, 4 locally made pistol, 1 serviceable pistol, 2 locally made single barrel guns and 1 locally made short barrel gun were recovered. Other recoveries in the State include 15 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 7 cartridges.
“Similarly, in Sector 6, 13 Brigade Area of Responsibility (Cross River State), criminals were denied freedom of action, no arrest was made and only 1x locally made gun and a rocket launcher were recovered.
“While in Sector 3, – 82 Division Garrison Area of Responsibility (Enugu State), farmers-herdsmen clash was averted as reported in the previous update. Also, a suspect was arrested at the Abakpa Cantonment Main Gate on his way to enter the Cantonment with some quantity of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and many sachets of Tramadol drugs.
“In Sector 4, -302 Artillery General Support Regiment, Onitsha Anambra State, criminal elements appeared to have sneaked out of the State throughout the period of the Exercise. This is without prejudice to the unfortunate but isolated killing of the Sun newspaper Staff in Onitsha general area.
“In Sector 5, 24 Engineer Support Regiment’s location in Ebonyi State, the emphasis was majorly on inter-communal and farmers-herdsmen clashes which were well checkmated during the Exercise. In addition, five (5) suspected Indian hemp hawkers and four (4) persons were arrested in connection with communal crisis between Obubra and Abakaliki of Cross River and Ebonyi States respectively. The latter were however released by the regiment after interrogation.”
Speaking at the 145 Battalion command headquarters, 82 Division GOC, Abubakar said, ”Operation Egwueke II which was launched to sustain the achievements made in Operation Egwu Eke I has indeed further exposed the 82 Division to highly rewarding skills and experience in aid to civil authority and dealing with emerging security challenges within the area of responsibility of the 82 Divisions. The conduct of the operation was largely in line with the vision of the chief of army staff, which is to have a professionally responsible Nigerian Army in the discharge of its roles.
“Therefore, it’s gratifying to note that the operation Egwueke II has to a great extent, curbed insecurity within the Southern Eastern States and the Cross River State, thereby enabling citizens to pursue their legitimate businesses. Operation Egwueke II connotes different thing to different people within the south east region depending on the side of the law they belong to.
“To the law-abiding people, it’s a laudable efforts by the Nigerian Army to support the government and other security agencies in the maintenance of law and order, peace and security.
To the criminals, cultists, kidnappers, violent agitators and other social deviants, it’s an army of occupation planned primarily to intimidate the people.
“We are highly delighted that, a great major of the population who are law abiding and hardworking and objectives will appreciate what Egwueke stands for. However, the tiny vocal minority who dominate the social media often feed people with false narratives about this exercise. Above all, we are satisfied with the conducts of troops and other security agencies who participated in the operation.
“We conducted the operation Egwueke II in line with the concept of operational objectives which involved series of raids, patrols, combing and search, road blocks, checkpoints, anti kidnapping drills and show of force to deal with all inherent threats to our national security.
“To achieve this, there was appropriate synergy between the all the security agencies in the country. As a result, most of the miscreants, violent agitators and antisocial elements have been completely denied the freedom of actions and believed to have left the Southeast of this country in their own interest.
“We also carried out several military cooperation activities to win the heart of the local population across the Southeast region. To this end, medical outreaches were conducted in Oji River, Mbaise, Ovim, Abakiliki, some areas of Cross River State and Ozubulu in Anambra State. It is heartwarming to note that all these medical outreaches witnessed outstanding successes.
“However, that of Ozubulu encountered initial challenge as a result of false and malicious online reports which claimed that the military were injecting children with monkey pox at venue we were never there. I’m happy that the event witnessed a high level turn out of beneficiaries. We shall not be discouraged by the negative reports that followed that event and particularly, Egwueke II in general.
“We shall continue to synergise and have existing cooperation with other sister agencies through joint training, intelligence sharing to enhance security in the Southeast region. In the vein, we shall continue to explore the avenues towards winning the hearts and minds through constructive engagement of the local populace, civil societies as well as relevant traditional institutions. I want to assure your Excellency that 82 Division is committed to maintaining the momentum provided by the success of Egwueke II and ensure that Abia in particular and entire southeast region remains peaceful and well secured.
