GOC Visits Warring Communities of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States

The General Officer
Commanding 82 Division (GOC), Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Adamu
Baba AbUbakar in company of the Commissioner of police (COMPOL) Ebonyi
State Mr Titus Lamorde have visited the warring communities of Edda,
Ogurunde, Oponuko and Ogamana communities of Edda and Obubra Local
Government Areas  of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States at the weekend
(Saturday 4 February 2017).

The
main objective of the visit was to deescalate the crisis and tension,
asses the level of damage and destruction In the affected localities.
Others are – the need to talk to the traditional and religious leaders
and youths of the communities to stop the fight and savagery for the
interest of peace and development of the areas.

While
at the palaces of the traditional rulers and communities’ town halls in
 the warring societies, the GOC addressed the traditional rulers and
youths and emphasized the danger of allowing youths to take laws into
their hands and the necessity for forgiveness and peaceful coexistence
between and among communities anywhere in Nigeria. 

He
urged the traditional leaders, youths and elders of the communities to
pardon one another and allow peace to reign pending the period when the
relevant authorities will conclude investigation into the remote and
immediate causes of the crisis with the view to solving the contending
issues.

“As humans, we must refrain from
revenge, acting in anger and wanton destruction… this will certainly
not bring solution to any problem but will rather compounds it… It
appears, these brotherly communities are now victims of this cyclical
danger of violence and destruction” – General Abubakar stated.

 
He told the traditional rulers that soldiers and policemen drafted in
their communities, –  are there to maintain and where necessary enforce
the peace and should be given all the cooperation they may require.

General
Abubakar and Compol Lamorde commended the army and police personnel
deployed in the conflicting localities for their hard work, discipline
and sacrifices to the nation and charged them to do more. He warned them
to remain vigilant and neutral at all times.

Among
the officers in the GOC’s team are the Commanders 13 Brigade and 44
Engineer Brigade Brigadier Generals Bulama Biu and Mark Mamman. Others
are the Commanders 82 Division Intelligence Brigade and provost Group
Colonels Nonye Ebulue and Ahmadu Abubakar. The Director State Security
Service Ebonyi State was represented by Mr Alex Samson.