Army Sets Up Anti-Kidnapping Unit In Rivers

Commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Brig-Gen Tukur Buruatai has assured that the Anti-Kidnapping Unit set up by the army is poised to reduce crime to the barest minimum in Rivers State.

Brig-Gen Buruatai gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen over the weekend as part of the 2011 Army Day celebration in Port Harcourt.

The 2nd Brigade Commander observed that security has tremendously improved since the establishment of the anti-kidnapping unit in the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF).

He stated that part of the mandate of the special unit is to curb car snatching, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalization armed robbery and with the core assignment of responding to kidnapping alerts in any part of the state.

Though he did not list the numerous successes recorded by the unit since its establishment, he stated that various kidnap attempts have been botched, while many victims have been rescued.

At the national level, he remarked that the Nigerian Army has continued to show determination in keeping crimes and other societal vices at bay. Adding that currently, a joint security team is being evolved to ensure high level of national security.

Commenting on this year’s Nigeria Army Day celebration, Brig-Gen Buruatai noted that the army has come a long way as the anniversary is geared at marking its 148th birthday.

This year’s theme, he further stated, is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Nigerian Army in meeting contemporary security challenges in tandem with the vision of the current Chief of Army staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika.

As part of activities to mark this year’s anniversary, he stated that an environmental sanitation was conducted by men of the 2nd Brigade to ensure that their host communities are sensitised, “ its symbolic and it is also a gesture whereby we give back to what our host communities are giving to us”.

So far, he added that the army has contributed immensely to the growth of the country, especially by ensuring internal and external security of the nation.