The acting director, Defence Information, Brigadier General John Agim, has stated that the launching of Operation 777 by Defence Headquarters was aimed at rejigging the already existing operations of the Nigeria army, all over the country.
He stressed that it became imperative to close the gaps between existing operational bases to avoid criminals and bandits escaping from one operation theatre to another without being noticed, saying that with the present set up, it would be difficult for criminals to escape without notice.
Brigadier General J Agim, who addressed journalists, yesterday, at the Charimegumari barracks, Lokoja, Kogi State maintained that prior to the launch of O
peration 777, there were large scale security threats in Kogi State, which included armed robbery insurgence, boundary disputes, cattle rustling, political thuggery, cultism and kidnapping among others.
“The security threats led to loss of lives, destruction of properties and disruption of socio-economic activities.
“The three senatorial areas of the state have their own peculiar nature of crime. The Eastern Senatorial District witnessed large-scale destruction of lives and properties occasioned by ethnic rivalry. Western Senatorial District had incessant kidnappings and herdsmen/farmers’ clashes while Central Senatorial Zone was faced with assassination and kidnapping.”
The Brigadier General, who was flanked by Jerry Omodara, SSA on Security to Governor Yahaya Bello, however noted that with the commencement of operation 777, the troops have put up offensive posture and embarked on series of operations that denied the hoodlums and criminals freedom of actions within the jurisdiction.
Gen Agim opined that Kogi State is strategic in socio-economic calculation of Nigeria because it is a gateway between the northern and southern part of Nigeria. It also shares boundaries with nine states and FCT, as such; the state is susceptible to spill over effect of violence and other diverse influences from these contiguous states.
