With the successful flag off of Exercise EGWU EKE 111 in the South East geo political zone, in line with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai’s directive on Sunday the 6th of January 2019, all formations and units under 82 Division Nigerian Army commenced activities in the areas of robust patrols, snap checkpoints, rescue missions and Cordon and Search among others, where necessary.
A press release by Colonel Sagir Musa, deputy director public relations highlighted “some occurrences or achievements so far recorded” thus:
FARMERS-HERDERS CLASH AVERTED
Troops of Sector 5 in 302 Artillery General Support Regiment, Onitsha in conjunction with other security agencies, based on intelligence, have averted a bloody clash between farmers and herdsmen in Aman area of Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State on 7 January, 2019. The incident led to the death of one herder before the arrival of security agencies. At the moment, the situation has been normalised with the combined efforts of the agencies and political leadership of the State.
ARREST OF NOTORIOUS CAR SNATCHER IN ABIA STATE
Following a tip off, troops of Sector 2, Sub – Sector 3 in 14 Brigade Area of Responsibility, on a targeted patrol on 8 January 2019, arrested a notorious car snatcher one Justice Origwe of Olokoro community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State. He was nabbed at about 2 am in Umuahia town in possession of 20 assorted vehicles keys.
Preliminary investigation and confession by the suspect revealed that Mr Origwe has been in the act for some years. He has since been handed over to Headquarters Nigerian Police, Abia State Command for further action.
ARREST OF A TRUCK LOADED WITH ILLEGALLY BUNKERED OIL
Similarly in Sector 3, Sub Sector 4 in 34 Brigade Area of Responsibility, troops of 342 Artillery Regiment on patrol along Shell pipeline at Obitti in Ohaji Egbema general area of Imo State, intercepted a truck loaded with substance suspected to be illegal product. On sighting the patrol team, the driver fled and abandoned the vehicle and the product. The truck with the content have been towed to Obinze Barracks for further necessary action.
CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONS/COOPERATION (CIMIC) ACTIVITIES
Recall that excellent Civil-Military Relations and CIMIC Projects are parts of the COAS vision for the Nigerian Army. Consequently, as a deliberate plan imbued to facilitate the success of this exercise and winning the hearts and minds of Nigerians, many CIMIC projects have been undertaken across the various parts of the country. In the same vein, the Nigerian Army has renovated and on 8th of January, 2019 commissioned 2 blocks of Nursery Classrooms at Onu Ibina Community Primary School at Igbere Bende Local Government Area of Abia State in 14 Brigade Area of Responsibility.
CRIMINALS DENIED FREEDOM OF ACTIONS SO FAR
As experienced during Exercise EGWU EKE 1 and 11, Ex EGWU EKE 111 has so far denied miscreants/criminals freedom of action in the South East geo political zone. Due to sustained mobile patrols and targeted stop and search operations across the region, criminal activities such as movement of arms and ammunitions, communal conflicts, farmers-herders clashes robbery, kidnappings, illegal oil bunkering, pipeline sabotage have so far been checkmated.
