Riverine Security: Ijaw Communities Visit 19 Battalion

As part of effort to appreciate the good gesture of protecting lives, properties and the recent free medical outreach conducted by men of 19 Battalion of the Nigeria Army, Koko, during the operation Crocodile Smile II in Egbema Kingdom, Ijaw communities in the riverine area has visited the Commanding Officer of the 19 Battalion, Lt. Col. Maaji Mohammed in Koko, Headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State to say ‘thank you’.

Our Delta North Correspondent reports that the Traditional Council of Chiefs from Egbema Kingdom, who represented the communities, expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Army for the role they played in ensuing that peace is restored to Egbema Kingdom, especially Ajakurama, the heritage headquarters of Ijaw nations. 

Speaking on behalf of the Communities, Chief Adele Jombai said the various communities in Egbema Kingdom are very happy with the Nigeria Army for their effort to ensure peace and security in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

His words, “our King has sent us to say a big thank you to the Nigerian Army for securing our lives and properties during the recent Operation Crocodile Smile II.  He said the operation has put an end to the activities of some unscrupulous elements and bad eggs terrorizing riverine communities”.

In his speech, Personal Assistant to the Pere of Egbema, Chief Semion Igbedikeme said “the Egbema kingdom has unanimously agreed to work with the army to sustain the relative peace that have been brought to us, we also want to say that during the exercise, no live was lost, no property destroyed as being speculated, we urged all the people to disregard such rumor and also advise our children to turn a new leaf, the army will not rest until they fetch out the bad eggs from and within Egbema Kingdom”, he stated.

Responding, the Commanding Officer, 19 Battalion Koko, Lt. Col. Maaji Mohammed thanked the Ijaw community Chiefs for the visit and the assistant given to them to carry out their constitutional duties in the area, noting that the Nigeria Army is a professional force and urged the leaders to preach and advise their children and the youths against illegal activities such as kidnapping, oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, cultism and other social vices that is capable of bridging the peace in the riverine communities.

The CO reiterated that the army has successfully completed the operation crocodile smile II, stating that no life was lost and call for more corporation from the communities to sustain peace in the area.

Present at the meeting were Traditional Council of Chiefs from various communities in Egbema Kingdom.

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