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The Nigerian Army has ended it’s controversial Operation Python Dance in the Southeast.
General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar, speaking on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff. Lieutenant General TY Buratai formally declared the end of Exercise EGWU EKE II at the weekend.
The ceremony took place Saturday night in Sector 1 Tactical Headquarters at Umuahia, Abia State, with the traditional activation of camp fire to formally signify the successful completion of the exercise.
Recall that the Operation Python Dance heated up the polity in the southeast after it led to the aggravation of the IPOB-led secessionist crisis.
It also produced rumours of monkeypox virus being injected into pupils by soldiers.
READ: Tension in Asaba, Onitsha, Enugu as monkeypox injection rumours close down schools
But a statement issued on Sunday by Colonel Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division, said General Abubakar commended all the officers, soldiers and personnel of paramilitary organizations that collaborated, synergized and worked commendably throughout the one month period for the exercise.
According to him, “the achievements recorded 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 is remarkable”.
Representative of the Abia State governor, Engr Emmanuel Nwabuko expressed appreciation of the government and people of the State for the numerous achievements of Exercise EGWU EKE 11 in terms of improvement of peace, security and stability of the State.
He traced the collaborative relationship with the Nigerian Army to 2010-2011 ”when kidnappers, armed robbers and other hoodlums paralyzed economic and social activities in the State”.
“It was the army that rescued us. So, we are ready to always leverage on this relationship whenever the need arises,” Nwabuko said.
In attendance were representative of the Chief of Training and Operations Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Ndalolo, Defence Headquarters Observer Team led by Commodore Shammah, Security Adviser to Abia State Governor, Captain (rtd) Idonsi Awa and the Commanders of 14 and 34 Brigades, Brigadier Generals AK Ibrahim and IH Bature.
Others were the Commanders of 44 Engineer Brigade, 82 Division Garrison, and Supply and Transport Brigadier Generals – Mark Mamman, LA Adegboye and EA Anaryu respectively.
The Operation Python Dance was very controversial as it led to the aggravation of the IPOB-led seccessionist crisis as well as rumours of monkeypox virus being injected into pupils by soldiers.