The Cross River State Governor Sen Bassey Edet Otu, has received in audience the General Officer Commanding GOC, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Hassan T. Dada and his entourage in his office.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, in Calabar said on Thursday that as a government it was happy with the proactive effort of the military in ensuring that peace returns to Bakassi, Akpabuyo and Yala LGAs of the state.
After once again congratulating the New GOC for the visit Hon Odey on security issues said that sometimes the state was having issues of kidnapping along the Ikang area but right now the place is peaceful and very calmed.
According to him, there have been issue of kidnapping in Akpabuyo and Bakassi axis as well as issue in the boarder community between Cross River and Benue states.But the military’s intervention have restored peace in those areas.
The deputy governor’s account of issues of kidnapping and boundaries dispute tops the essence of the visit where he assured the military of Cross River State Governmment support to ensure that citizens and residents go about their legitimate duty without any fear of molestation.
“As a government we want to assure you that if there anything we can do to sustain the relationship that we have been having with the Army and other sister agencies over the years we will be happy to do that,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the Major General Dada who recently assumed office as GOC, 82 Division, said they are aware of the challenges around the boarder areas with Cameroon and the challenges of piracy, militancy and robbery in the high seas as well as the challenges of cultism in the state.
Gen Dada said it was customary and tradition of the Nigerian Army that once you take over a new command it is expected that the new GOC should go round the area of his responsibility on a familiarization tour of the states.
He said based on that he found that it would not be appropriate without coming to pay a visit to the Chief security officer of the state, saying “I am here to familiarize myself to you and my formation and unit that would stay in Cross River State.”
As the Chief Security Officer of one of the 6 states under the 82 division, Dada told Odey that there is no doubt that there has been a good cordial relationship between the civilians authority and the military in Cross River State, adding that they were in state to serve him.
While soliciting the co-operation of the state government and other sister agencies to tackle the challenges of kidnapping, piracy, cultism and communal clashes, the GOC explained that one thing about the military since 1999 is how they conduct operation in where series of challenge and report are showing that the military can not do it alone without the civilians and the civil authority.
“The security challenges that are coming up is not what we can not overcome, some of them are self inflicted but we know that it is just a matter of time we will conquer it,” he said.
“My formation will be able to counter them because if you look at the combination of the military here it would not be hard for us to conquer them,” he continued.
“When the man in control says no it will be easier for us, that is why we are here today to solicite your support which you have been giving,” he said, “We are just asking for more of that and if there is anything you feel we needed to take note of we will be more than willing to do that, my command is actually very capable and on behalf officers and men of the 82 division we are very grateful.”
Major Gen Dada was accompanied on the visit by the Commander of the 13th Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier Gen. E. I. Okoro, among others.