The controversial Python Dance II or Exercise Egwu Eke II military operation in the South-East finally ended over the weekend.

The General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai to formally declare the end of the exercise.

The ceremony took place in Sector 1 Tactical Headquarters at Umuahia, Abia State from 7pm to 8pm on Saturday with the traditional activation of camp fire to formally signify the successful completion of the exercise.

General Abubakar commended all the officers, soldiers and personnel of paramilitary organisations that collaborated and synergised, worked tirelessly and commendably throughout the one month period for the exercise.

He remarked further that the achievements recorded during the exercise in the areas of attainment of the mission specific training objectives, improvement in peace and security, curtailing the menace of violent irredentist groups in the theatre of the exercise (South Eastern part of Nigeria) were remarkable.

In his speech, Engr. Emmanuel Nwabuko, the representative of the Governor of Abia State, expressed appreciation of the government and people of the state “for the numerous achievements of Exercise Egwu Eke II in terms of improvement of peace, security and stability of the state.”

He further said that the collaborative relationship with the Nigerian Army could be traced to the time when in 2010-11 kidnappers, armed robbers and other hoodlums paralysed economic and social activities in the state. He recalled that it was the army that rescued the state. "So, we are ready to always leverage on this relationship whenever the need arise." the Governor assured.

In attendance were the representative of the Chief of Training and Operations Army Headquarters, Brigadier General A. S. Ndalolo; Defence Headquarters Observer Team led by Commodore R. M. Shammah; the Security Adviser to Abia State Governor, Captain Idonsi Awa (rtd); and the Commanders of 14 and 34 Brigades Brigadier Generals A. K. Ibrahim and I. H. Bature. Others were the Commanders of 44 Engineer Brigade, 82 Division Garrison, and Supply and Transport Brigadier Generals Mark Mamman, L. A. Adegboye and E. A. Anaryu respectively.

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