Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Nigerian Army to provide the Nigerian Police with the necessary assistance in tackling child trafficking in the country.

He made the call yesterday when the Commander of the 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Ibrahim Attahiru, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor's Office, Uyo.

The governor lamented that tackling child trafficking in the country has assumed a new dimension but expressed confidence that collaboration between the army and the police in fighting it would bring the situation under control.

He applauded the Nigerian Army in Akwa Ibom for cooperating with and assisting other security agencies in fighting crimes for the peaceful co-existence of the state.

Said Chief Akpabio: “The peace we are experiencing in the state today is due to the cooperation between the army, police and other security agencies in the state through the team work. And I must thank the army for assisting security operatives to ensure adequate security in the state.”

The governor thanked the Nigerian Army for the recent training of its officials which, he said, has made them more adequate in combating crime in the country. He also commended the 6th Motorised Batallion at Ibagwa in the state for assisting in protecting the state from criminals.

Akpabio equally congratulated Brigadier Ibrahim Attahiru of the 13th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, in neighbouring Cross River State, who is also foreseeing the command in the state on his recent appointment, stressing that state would partner him and continue to work with the army.

Brigadier Attahiru, speaking earlier, applauded the governor for his uncommon leadership and transformation of the state, hinting that his visit to the state is to partner the state government in providing security and to cooperate with other security agencies for the socio-economic development of the state.

•Photo shows Governor Godswill Akpabio, presenting a souvenir to Brigadier I. Attahiru, the New Commander of 13 Brigade Nigerian Army at the Government House, Uyo.