MonkeyPox scare: Army settles for donation of exercise books to primary schools in Delta

WARY of monkeypox scare that trailed its vaccination exercise during Operation Crocodile Smile II in 2017 across the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) under the Nigerian Army has resorted to donating free exercise books to pupils of primary schools in Delta State.

The army/civil relation exercise is at the instance of the ongoing Operation Crocodile Smile III in the Niger Delta region.

Commanding Officer, Sector 1, OPDS, Col. Al-Hassan Grema, led operatives of the outfit to primary schools in the state to carry out the donation.

He said over 9, 000 exercise books would be distributed to pupils as part of means to enhance cordial army/civil relationship.

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The Operation Crocodile Smile III, which started November 1, is meant to offer humanitarian services to the society as well as rid the creeks of all forms of criminality to ensure a peaceful business atmosphere.

Grema, who described education as the best legacy a government and parents can bequeath to children, said the donations were a token of love from the army to support primary education in the state.

He said the army chose supply of exercise books to pupils ahead of inoculation to avoid the rumour of injecting children with monkey Pox which caused panic during the 2017 exercise.

Two primary schools benefitted on Thursday from the free books and they included, Ethiope Model Primary School, Okirigwe, and St. Malachi Primary School, Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

Headmistress of Ethiope Model Primary School, Chief Mrs Edith Agino, whose pupils number over 1, 000, thanked the army, adding that the gesture will enhance the relationship between the army and the community.

Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Mr Eugene Okpe Inoagha, lauded the army for the free books and maintaining peace in the community.

TribuneOnline reports that the beneficiary pupils expressed appreciation to the OPDS for the free exercise books.

Ecstatic Master Tobiloba Adetunji (Primary 3) from Ethiope Model Primary School and John Israel of Primary 5, from Malachi Primary School, prayed for the army for the gesture.

The one-month exercise continues Friday with a sanitation exercise across the State.