BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, PORT HARCOURT
Six Division Nigerian Army has Flagged off, Exercise Still Water 2021,
at Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State.
Governor Nyesom Wike who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event restated the resolve of the State Government to continue to provide logistics for Security operatives for smooth operations in the State.
Exercise Still Water 2021 which is being conducted in collaboration with sister security agencies is aimed at ensuring peace and security during the last quarter of the year.
Participating troops will go through operational training to effectively respond to security challenges, such as kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cultism, communal crisis among others.
Governor Nyesom Wike who was the Special of Honour at the kick off of the exercise in Ahoada, noted that synergy among security operatives will facilitate the fight against criminality in the country.
Governor Wike who was represented by Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, gave assurance of the commitment of the state government towards the provision of logistics for Security agencies.
“It is obvious that the current security challenges in this country are dynamic in nature, involving the use of both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches, which require multi faceted strategies to effectively tackle them.”
“Since the coming on board of my administration, we have made efforts to support the security agencies.”
Giving details about the exercise, the General Officer Commanding Six Division Nigerian Army, Major General Sani Mohammed who charged participating Troops to ensure adequate security within their area, stated that other security agencies will be part of the exercise.
Major General Mohammed while explaining that the Free medical outreach of the exercise is to straighten Civil-Military relationship, revealed that Exercise Still Water is to cover Six Division Area of Responsibility, which are; Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta States.
“The exercise will be based on real time intelligence, and duff tail into real operations to checkmate various criminalities as the Yuletide season approaches.”
“The exercise will be conducted jointly by the troops of Six Division and personal from Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force as well as paramilitary agencies drawn from various commands within the four States under the Division.”
The GOC solicited timely information from the residents of the States to help nip crimes in the bud.
While addressing participants from the community during the free medical exercise as part of the programme, the Commander Six Division Nigerian Army Hospital and services, Colonel Chidozie Ibe, explained that various ailments would be treated at the spot.
Colonel Ibe told the residents that the medical personnel on ground were seasoned and trained to handle the issues at hand, while complicated health conditions would be referred to appropriate quarters.
Two beneficiaries of the Free Medical Outreach, Mrs. Joy Charles and Mr. Albert Celestine who said they were satisfied with the treatment, appreciated Nigerian Army for the gesture.
According to Mr. Celestine, the free Medical outreach was the first of its kind in the community.
He stated that several residents in the villages battle challenging health conditions but lack financial support for proper treatment.
The beneficiaries requested that the medical Outreach be carried out on regular basis.
It is expected that during and after Exercise Still Water, residents of the States within Six Division Nigerian Army Area of Responsibility, AoR, will experience improved Security.
