The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has appealed to the military to ‘study the topography’ of the South East region, introduce new techniques and do more the protection the citizens of the area.
Uzodinma made this appeal when the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, Major Gen. Umar T. Musa, paid him a courtesy call at the New Executive Council Chambers Government House, Owerri, Thursday.
The Governor noted that insecurity has challenged the government so much and it will “continue to encourage the military and other arms of the Armed Forces to help the government bring peace and ensure security to the South East.”
Governor Uzodinma said that ‘all efforts being made to stamp them out criminality has been futile as they are adamant in their activities of destroying government property, killing innocent citizens, burning down police stations and generally retarding development in the zone.’
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He used the opportunity to commend the Commanding Officer in charge of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Bridg. Gen. S. Sulaiman whom he said has done a lot of work with his men in the fight against banditry and criminality, where even some of the military men paid the supreme price in the course of duty.
He also encouraged the GOC and his men not to hesitate to ask for any information that will help them to achieve their objectives of making the region safe and peaceful.
Earlier, Maj. Gen. Musa told the governor that they are in Imo to pay a courtesy call as tradition demands and “to inform the Governor that I have fully assumed duties as the new GOC in the South East.”
The GOC said so far the officers and soldiers “have tried to curtail the activities of the irredentist to ensure they are no more a threat to the law-abiding citizens of the zone who are loyal to the rules, regulations and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He emphasized that most of the bandits, armed robbers and kidnappers are mere criminals whose stock in trade is criminality.
He assured that it is their responsibility to ensure that the criminals are flushed out so that the citizens will go about their normal activities and enjoy their normal life.
