From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA STATE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, has assured that troops conducting operations, over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area would be firm, strong, decisive and professional in the cause of the operations in the area.
He made this known when the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks, Rivers State, on Thursday.
Major General Abdussalam, while appreciating the MD and his team for the visit, said the mission handed to troops by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, was basically to recover the weapons carted away by the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure that all those involved are arrested.
He further added that troops will continue to be in the creeks until these objectives are achieved.
The GOC further reiterated that no amount of propaganda, arm-twisting, blackmailing, intimidation, and false narratives would distract troops from staying on course to achieve their objectives.
He, however, assured that the operations would be conducted in the most professional manner in line with the global best practice of adherence to rules of engagement and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.
He called on people of the Niger Delta Region (NDR) to go about their normal activities.
The GOC appealed to people and communities to assist troops regarding the location of the fleeing criminals and the carted away weapons.
He averred that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is the symbol of sovereignty, stressing that the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu captured it clearly when he said an attack on the Armed Forces is an attack on the nation.
“Therefore, if we allow criminals to continue to attack our security forces, there will be anarchy.”
Major General Abdussalam further said troops will not rest until all those involved are tracked down to account for their deeds.
He reassured that the operation is being conducted in such a way that, going forward, nobody would contemplate attacking men in uniform.
He also said false narratives being churned out, and propaganda peddled over the mindless criminality would not deter troops from fishing out the criminals.
The GOC appreciated the NDDC MD and his team for identifying with the Nigerian Army at this moment of grief.
He added that there would not be development without peace and security.
Abdussalam added that the two institutions would continue to work together for the common good of society.
He called on well-meaning members of the society to avail the Nigerian Army credible intelligence on where to get the criminals and ensure they answer for their crimes.
Earlier, the MD NDDC, Ogbuku, while commiserating with the GOC, said that without peace in the NDR, there would not be development.
He averred that the NDR has been peaceful for some time, owing to the sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The NDDC boss said the sad event that occurred in Okuama community has called for concern.
According to him, the incident formed the reason he led his management team on a condolence visit to the Division, adding that they stand in solidarity with the Nigerian Army over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers.
Ogbuku said the unfortunate incident didn’t define the people of the NDR, adding that for years now, the people of the region have embraced peace and dialogue.
He further said that no one in the region is in support of the mindless act of criminality perpetrated by the gunmen.
Ogbuku continued that the Niger Delta Region has been relatively calm and remains the bedrock of the national economy.
He called on all critical stakeholders to be calm and support the Nigerian Army to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
According to him, it is the only way justice would be served, particularly to those who paid the supreme price.
He assured that they would continue to pray and support the families they left behind.
Ogbuku expressed optimism that the Nigerian will conduct its operations in the most professional manner by ensuring that innocent people do not take the brunt of the crime committed by criminals.