Nigeria’s South-East has not recorded incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and associated violence as well as inter communal, herdsmen-farmers clashes during this Yuletide due to the on-going military exercise in the region tagged Operation Python Dance, the Nigerian Army said on Sunday. “These menaces are and have been the focus and targets of this Exercise and have so far been effectively achieved,” the Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Sagir Musa, said in a statement issued in Enugu.

He said that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major General Adamu Abubakar, yesterday visited Awka, Agulu, Nnobi, Ihiala and Okija communities in Anambra State to assess the conduct of troops on the exercise. The GOC was also at the Niger Bridge to assess the state of security and vehicular movements.

Colonel Musa said: “It would be recalled that traffic gridlock has for many years, especially during the yuletide been endemic on the Niger Bridge in both Asaba and Onitsha axis inflicting suffering and other inconveniences to the road users.

“Hence, parts of the targets for the exercise is to checkmate the usual gridlock, chaos and insecurity at the Bridge. This objective has so far been achieved. Since the start of Exercise Python Dance, there has not been cases of gridlock and associated insecurity on the Asaba – Onitsha Bridge. The orderliness, the disposition of combined security personnel and the manner the general public conduct themselves especially the road users is commendable.”

The statement urged members of the public to remain security conscious and report any suspicious movements and persons to security agencies close to them.

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