Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has called on the Nigerian Army to assist Governors of the South East geopolitical zone in curbing challenges of kidnapping, armed robbery and cult related activities in the zone. Governor Ikpeazu made the call,Thursday, at Government House Umuahia, while receiving in audience a delegation of the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brigadier General Laziz Adeboye. According to the Governor, the strategy for curbing the menace in the State is to deploy informants, who bring tip off about criminal activities to the government. He stated that the theatres of criminal operations are mostly situated in inaccessible areas hence the proliferation of small arms; which has become an oxygen that is fueling crime in Nigeria, and urged the Army not to relent in their fight against crime in the zone. Governor Ikpeazu however praised the Nigerian Army for remaining a uniting force and pillar of support that has held the country together and commended the Chief of Army Staff and his men for their cooperation with the State government.
He assured the Nigerian Army that Abia State would remain a partner in progress in ensuring that it succeeds in its efforts to securing the people and territorial integrity of the nation. Earlier, Brigadier General Laziz Adeboye who said his visit is part of the familiarization tour in line with the custom of the military to visit States within its jurisdiction as a newly appointed G.O.C thanked the Governor for his invaluable support to the Nigeria Army and pledged not to leave any stone unturned in the discharge of his professional mandate to the Nation.
