The governor, while flagging off the exercise at the 34 Artillery Brigade Forward Operation Base, in Orlu Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday, said that the measure would stem the tide of the insecurity in the state.
He said that the exercise which would be carried out for three months would help restore sanity in the state ahead of the Yuletide.
Governor Uzodimma commended security agencies in the state for their vision in creating the Centre to address the peculiar nature of the security situation in the South-East zone and Imo State in particular.
He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Farouk Yahaya and all officers and soldiers of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri for their sacrifices in ensuring a peaceful Imo.
He urged security agencies to continue consolidating the gains so far made in curbing the activities of criminals and pledged his support for the agencies.
According to him, the exercise would create an enabling environment for people to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestation.
“This is a special period and season in the lives of the people of the South-East who are predominantly Christians coming back for the celebration of Christmas which usually lasts from October to December,” the governor said.
Uzodimma added that “the exercise will go a long way in improving the security situation in our geo-political zone, giving our people a sense of security and encouraging our brothers and sisters who are resident abroad to come home without fear.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Raymond Utsaha, explained that all security agencies were involved in the exercise.
He said that the exercise was meant to “build on the gains so far recorded over the menace of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).”
He added that troops involved in the exercise would be quartered at Orlu for the rest of the year to ensure that socio-economic activities in the area and Imo, in general, would continue to take place unhindered.
Highlights of the event were the governor’s inspection of the Guard-of-Honour and tour of the Super Camp, where he was briefed at the Information Centre and Operations room respectively.
The event was attended by the Commandant, Nigerian Navy College of Finance and Logistics, Owerrinta in Abia, Navy Captain N. U Bugaje.
Also in attendance were the Commander, 211 Quick Response Group of the Nigerian Air Force, Owerri, Group Captain Idowu Ayo; Imo Commissioner of Police, CP Hussein Rabiu and heads of other security agencies in the state.
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