Douglas Blessing, Port Harcourt
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has charged the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army Port Harcourt, Major General Jamal Abdussalam to contain illegal proliferation of arms in Rivers State.
This as the Rivers State governor has wondered why the Nigerian military has not considered it necessary to clamp down and bring to justice none state actors who have continued to maintain armed camps in some communities in the state brandishing sophisticated firearms publicly.
Governor Fubara gave the charge on Monday, when he hosted the new GOC 6 Division at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
According to him, “When the military, for whatever reason, overlooks such acts of lawlessness displayed by none state actors who should have nothing to do with possession of firearms and using it to intimidate law-abiding citizens, it raises concerns about what has become of our country”.
Fubara urged the military to end such national embarrassment by saying; “There is a camp somewhere in Degema. I want to ask, do our laws now allow individuals to start showcasing AK-47s? Have our laws got to that point where people can brandish arms before military personnel and you don’t do anything about it? It is an insult to the State and Federal Government of Nigeria”.
Fubara also called the attention of the military to the incessant breakdown of law and order at the Elele axis of Emohua Local Government where they have a base and charged them to do everything possible to end the security breeches there and make it safe for residents and travellers who use the road.
He asked the military to be part of providing security to guarantee peace that will promote development.
In his remark, Major General Jamal Abdussalam explained that having been posted to the state on this assignment, he visited to introduce himself and solicit support and cooperation from the state government.
He commended the state government for the several material and logistics support given to the army and pledged that the division will provide adequate security to ensure the successful completion of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project.
