The Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, has said no operation of the Army in the Southeast is intended to disrupt the existence of peace in the region.
Buratai spoke during the opening ceremony of a 2- day media- military relations summit organised as part of events flagging off the Operation Atilogu 1 for the South East region.
The COAS who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations of the N.A, Enobong Udo said that the commencement of the operation was carefully chosen to coincide with the yuletide season when there is usually an increase in criminal activities in the country.
He explained that targeted at criminals and not the peace-loving people of the country and the region as the exercises have ensured that peace reigned in the previous years.
''The Operation like other similar operations, is intended to help people in the South East have a hitch-free festive season. The Army is not at all against the people of the South-east because similar operations are ongoing in other zones of the country,'' he said.
He further maintained that the Nigerian Army remains one of the major instruments that has kept the country together over the years.
''The army has fought really hard to ensure that insurgency is completely stamped out of the country henceforth, thereby ensuring that development is attained.''
Seeking further, he said ''the task of defending the lives and property of Nigerians is not an easy one and that is why men and women of the army need to be well equipped with their duties''.
Earlier in his address, the Grand Officer Commanding, GOC, 82 Division of the N.A L.A Adeboye assured people in the South East of the army's resolve, together with other security agencies to ensure that lives and property are safeguarded, especially, during the yuletide season.
He also said the summit will help galvanize the media and public support towards the operation as well as ensure a professionally responsible army.
In his address, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said the summit would not have come at a better time that now when there is an ever-increasing need to improve on the security of lives and property.
Ugwuanyi who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Simon Ortuanya, however, said that the state government was ever willing to corporates with security agencies in the state to ensure the security of lives and property.
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