The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has said that contrary to insinuations by some people on the social media on the on-going Operation Python Dance recently launched in the five South East states by the Nigerian Army as an Army of occupation saying that the exercise was put together with the good intention of wiping out crime in the zone.

Speaking at a reception organised for the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General Tukur Buratai at the headquarters of the exercise located at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, Obiano said those condemning the exercise missed the point as the exercise was meant to assist the state in fighting crime.

The Governor said, “They are not Army of occupation as being labeled on the internet. Two and half years ago, our people were not coming home because of security issues and we formed Operation Kpochapu, which cleared the state of crime, such that today, Anambra is the safest state in Nigeria. The Army had always assisted the Joint Task Force we set up and they have not disappointed us.”

He urged the people to cooperate with the operators of the exercise to sustain the relative peace in the state.

Obiano maintained that it was only criminals and criminally-minded people that would be afraid of the military presence.

In his speech, General Burutai explained that the exercise was part of the military training programme, which had also been launched in other parts of the country. He said that such trainings enhance the proficiency of the Army, adding that there was no quarter that passed without the Army having the exercise.

While assuring that the soldiers would respect the freedom of the people for as long as the programme will last, Burutai noted that the aim of the exercise was to ensure that Nigerians had a peaceful season of celebration.

He said, “It is not targeted at any person or group of people”. However, Pro-Biafra agitators, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and some human rights groups in the zone had earlier condemned the operation, saying that it was targeted against the agitators.

They also defined the exercise as a measure that would inflict hardship on the people of the zone, especially during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.

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