GOC PROMISES IMPROVED OPERATIONAL STRATEGY IN WAR TORN EFFIUM & EZZA-EFFIUM COMMUNITIES

Reporter : AMECHI ODO

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigeria Army Enugu, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured Ebonyi State Government of proactive steps to restore normalcy in the war torn Effium and Ezza Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.

The GOC gave the assurance when he visited troops deployed to the communities to stop the on going sporadic attacks and killings in the area.

The Major General, who toured the communities in company of the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, senior military officers and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Aliyu Garba, explained that he had identified some flashpoints and had given directive on proactive operational strategies.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Igwe said the state government was impressed with the GOC’s visit, noting that about sixty-six young men spotted at Okpoduma in the course of their tour of the epicentre of the crisis would be interrogated to ascertain their mission.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from where they were arrested while the Deputy Governor ordered that they be taken into custody.

It was however gathered that about fifty-five of them escaped from custody shortly after the GOC and the Deputy Governor left Effium.

The State Commissioner for Internal Security, Mr. Stanley Okoroemegha, who confirmed the development blamed it on compromise.

When contacted on phone, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Aliyu Garba, claimed there was no compromise as some suspects arrested in the area were in police custody.

It was gathered that about one hundred soldiers had been deployed to the warring communities.