By Peregba Jerry
The Nigerian Army, 29 Battalion under the 6 Division, Port Harcourt, has distributed 10,000 exercise books to students at the Community Secondary School, Ebubu, in the Eleme Local Government Area of the Rivers State.
Also, the Army distributed palliatives to widows and orphans in Ebubu and Aleto communities, as well as in Eleme LGA.
The Army said the gesture was aimed at building goodwill between the military and communities in Rivers State in the fight against criminal activities.
The 29 Battalion under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, handed the materials to the two communities in Eleme on Friday.
Distributing the items, the Commanding Officer, of 29 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lt. Cpl. Ishaya Manga, said the non-kinetic approach to tackling criminality in the state was in tandem with the people-oriented philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
Manga stated, “It would be recalled that on the 13th of October, 2023, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, flagged off an exercise known as Operation Still Water Three here in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
“Part of the exercise is designed to get rid of criminal activities within Rivers State, the exercise is not only conducted by the military alone, other security agencies are also involved in the exercise.
“The community leaders, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in Rivers State are also part of the operation.
“We have seen that using the kinetic approach alone would not guarantee the successful conduct of this exercise and that was why the non-kinetic approach was also adopted in line with the kinetic approach so that we can actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.”
In line with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, under the leadership of Major General J H Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has directed us to select some of those less privileged homes and vulnerable communities to express our hands of non-kinetic activities.”
Manga, further said the initiative started a month ago, pointing out that other communities have earlier benefited.
He added, “We have started this exercise since last month, especially, we have visited four orphanage homes and distributed palliatives.
“We have also given palliatives to Obele and Ebubu communities, apart from giving out palliatives, we have distributed 10,000 exercise books of 40 leaves to about seven secondary schools within Rivers State.
“Some of those secondary schools are Ebubu community junior and senior secondary schools, Township Model Primary Schools 1 and 2, World Book Capital City Model Primary Schools and St Cyprian Primary School, Port Harcourt.
“Others are Community Secondary School Egberu, Ndoki, Community Secondary School, Anyama and Community Secondary School Okoloma in Oyigbo Local Government Area.”
Taking delivery of the donated items, the Sister-in-charge of Love Crucified Orphanage home, Aleto, Reverend Sister, Chika Maria expressed happiness, saying it was the first time such a large group of military personnel was visiting them.
On her part, a widow in the Ebubu community, Aken Charity, who received the palliatives, thanked the Army for the gesture.
Speaking, the Principal of Community Secondary School Ebubu, Mr Nkara Barine, who received the notebooks, assured that the items will be judiciously utilised.
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