The military on Monday began an operation in the South East, code-named “Exercise Golden Dawn” as part of efforts to address rising insecurity in the region.
The exercise, according to the Commander 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Col Abdulkarim Usman, will help to combat insecurity in the state and foster inter-agency cooperation.
Usman said: ”The Military will use the golden opportunity in conjunction with other security agencies to curb the existing security threats in Anambra State.
“The threats range from secessionist agitations, by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra, and Eastern Security Network.
“Others are banditry, kidnapping, cultist activities, land disputes clashes, communal clashes, chieftaincy issues, assassinations and youths restiveness. To curb these countless security challenges, a robust posture is what the unit has always maintained.”
In Enugu, the Enugu State capital, hoodlums had gone on the rampage, in their willful enforcement of a sit-at-home order, which IPOB, the Indigenous People of Biafra, has disowned.
Nigeria’s South East region has, recently, turned into a hotbed of insecurity and lawlessness, since Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, was arrested overseas by Nigeria’s government and brought back to Nigeria.
Last week, nine persons including Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of the information minister, Prof Dora Akunyili, were murdered at Nkpor in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, amidst a series of killings and assassinations, arson and destruction of property, and criminal intimidation of citizens across the five states in the South East.
However, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is of the view that “Exercise Golden Dawn” in South East Nigeria, might just be a political tool introduced for APC, the All Peoples Progressive Congress, to take advantage of, and edge out the other political parties participating in the November 6th governorship election in Anambra State.
The group called on the governments, federal and state, and the Military establishment to ensure that innocent citizens are not harassed or intimidated, and that the Nigerian Army abide by the rules of engagement with high levels of professionalism.
In a statement signed by its secretary general, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze raised its concerns, claiming that the previous “Operation Python Dances” created the present environment of increased violence and insecurity in the South East.
“Ndigbo are foreseeing uncertainties and tensions as if there are hidden agenda attached to the newly formed Operations Golden Dawn,” the statement said.
“The military shouldn’t allow politicians to drag them into Anambra November 6th governorship elections.
“There are innuendoes that APC had craftily designed scripts for the Anambra elections including the use of the military to edge out PDP and APGA.
