Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has stressed the importance of security to deliver good governance to the people.
Diri said that necessitated the commitment and support of his administration to efforts by security agencies to promote security in the state.
Speaking during the flag-off of the Exercise Still Waters III by the Nigerian Army at Otuokpoti, in Ogbia Council, the governor said since he took office, his administration has been giving priority to security of life and property, as it is the essence of good governance.
A statement by Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted him as saying that the operation was a welcome development at a time the country is approaching the Christmas period, and Bayelsa is preparing for an off-cycle governorship election.
He appreciated the efforts of the military in reducing crime in the state, urging it to continue to be proactive and collaborate with the state government to keep Bayelsa peaceful.
Diri said the success of previous exercises contributed to the peaceful Christmas period in the state, commending the Chief of Army Staff for sustaining the exercise, while expressing optimism that this year’s operation will be more successful.
His words: “In our state, as we all know, we are in a period called the ember months, which attract criminal activities. So, it is necessary to set in place the machinery to check criminal activities, especially for the coming governorship election.”
Also, the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, flagged off 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army’s Exercise Still Water III 2023, and implored the military personnel to, as a matter of urgency, involve the use of both kinetic and non kinetic approaches to effectively tackle the security challenges in Nigeria.
The exercise was inaugurated at the 63 army camp in Asaba, scheduled to run between October 2, 2023 and January 5, 2024.
Oborevwori, who stated this during the flag off in Asaba, the state capital, urged the army to strategise with other security agencies on measures to address current and emerging security challenges.
The governor, who spoke through his deputy, Monday Onyeme, alluded to the fact that the military personnel have to work with sister security agencies to end the killings of innocent Nigerians once and for all.
To achieve it, the security forces must conduct training among its personnel to promote inter-agency cooperation, as the current security challenges in the country, particularly Delta State, are dynamic in nature.
