Anti-Kidnapping Fight: Wike Urges Army, Police Synergy …Donates 20 Vehicles, Land To Ease Operations

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on the Nigerian Army to support the Nigeria Police in tackling the rising wave of kidnapping in the country.
He also urged the Army to work with the police to fight cultism in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali, yesterday, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said that the support will help in promoting security across the country.
He assured the security agencies that his administration will continue to provide logistics and financial support for them to discharge their responsibilities.
The governor said: “I want to urge the Nigerian Army to support the police tackle kidnapping and enhance security.
“It is also necessary that you assist the police to weed out cultists as they are beginning to rear their ugly heads and trouble peace-loving residents of the state”.
He said that Rivers State has not witnessed any major vandalism of oil pipelines because of the security programmes being executed by the state government.
The governor maintained that the state government will improve areas of partnership with the Nigerian Army for better security in the state.
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali commended Wike for his support to the security agencies.
He assured that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will continue to invest in the improvement of security across the country.
The minister of defence noted that the investments in security have led to the reduction of crime in the Niger Delta.
Dan-Ali was accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Maj-Gen Okon Udoh and senior Army officers.
However, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, yesterday, formally launched into operation, the newly-established 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.
The division was set up on December 7, 2016, as part of the measures adopted by the Army to address the security challenges in the Niger Delta.
The division covers the four coastal states in the region – Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom.
The minister said: “the division was established out of the desire of the present administration to protect lives and property in the region.’’
He enumerated the security challenges in the area as cultism, illegal oil bunkering, political violence, as well as the activities of militants.
Dan-Ali explained that other threats that informed the division’s establishment was the activities of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), communal clashes and conflict between oil giants and communities.
“All these heighten the state of insecurity in the region, and negatively affect gas and oil production, as well as other economic activities,’’ he said.
According to Dan-Ali, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the establishment of the division in order to prevent further destruction of lives and property, as well as to improve the security situation in the region.
He thanked the governors of the four states for their support, and urged other stakeholders in the area to support government efforts at combating all forms of criminality in the region.
Also speaking, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the facility was one of the ways the Army could immediately respond to security issues in the Niger Delta.
He thanked the governors for their support and assured that the army would not relent in providing security in the area.
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Maj-Gen Okon Udoh said that Wike has made critical investments in the provision of logistics to the new division.
However, in line with the commitment of the Rivers State Government to improve security across the state, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, announced the donation of land to the Nigerian Army in Omuma Local Government Area.
Speaking during the operationalisation of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike also donated 20 operational vehicles to the Army.
A breakdown shows that the state government donated 10 Hilux vans and 10 buses to the new division.
While making the donation, Wike said: “As a responsible government, we appreciate the contributions of the Nigerian Army in the development of the country.
“We appreciate the contributions of the Nigerian Army in dislodging criminals in our state. That is why  we will continue to support you. These operational vehicles will help the new division fight crime.”
He stated that the state government will construct a park for the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association in Port Harcourt, which will be used by Army children and other children in the state.
The governor added that the state government will assist the Army set up a standard Command Secondary School in Port Harcourt to promote education.
In his remarks, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel pledged to work with the Army to achieve set goals in the region, and presented to the Army Chief the Certificate of Occupancy of the land for the construction of the permanent site of the newly-established 2 Brigade in the state.
The governor had earlier donated the land to the army.
Also speaking, Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, said that the state government would soon complete the process of allocating land to the Army to build a brigade.
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), who represented Governor Seriake Dickson, thanked the Army for the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
Highlight of the event was the commissioning of the 6 Division Quarter Guard and 6 Division Monument by Wike.
The event also witnessed the flag-off of the 6 Division Anti-Kidnapping Squad, 6 Division Anti-Bunkering Squad, 6 Division Strike Force and 6 Division Operation Checkmate.
There was also a multi-agency show of force to indicate the readiness of the division to fight crime.