Nigerian Army yesterday said that military exercise tagged, AYEM AKPATUMA which was launched to check security challenges in some states in the country has been extended for an extra two months in Taraba State to consolidate on the successes of the exercise.

In a statement signed the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Texas Chukwu added that the extension was mainly to facilitate the army’s efforts in ridding the state of militants and other criminal elements.

 

He added that the army has been besieged calls from well meaning Nigerians to sustain the exercise until relative peace and calm is restored to the environs.  

 

The statement reads in part, “in view of the development, the ongoing exercise AYEM AKPATUMA in Taraba State has been extended for 2 months.

 

“The extention becomes necessary in order to further consolidate on the gains achieved so far and due to calls well-meaning Nigerians. It would facilitate the Nigerian Army’s effort of ridding the affected areas of militants and other criminal elements. 

 

Calling on particularly residents of Taraba State to cooperate with the troops giving useful and timely information to enable them carry out their constitutional duties effectively, Chukwu added that the exercise has achieved tremendous success.

It would be recalled that the exercise AYEM AKPATUMA was flagged off on 20th February, 2018 for troops in North Central and parts of North West on planning and conduct of  ‘Military Operations Other Than War’.

 

The statement added that the exercise was aimed at sustaining the Nigerian Army’s constitutional roles of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria as well as aiding the civil authority to maintain peace and security.

 

“Exercise AYEM AKPATUMA has recorded tremendous successes in spite of challenges. However, the exercise needs to be sustained in some areas in other to consolidate on the initial gains”, Chukwu said.

Source: Daily Trust