The Nigerian Army Commander of 29 battalion, 6 DIV, Lieutenant Colonel, Ishaya Manga, HRH, Emere Goya Chinwi, provided foodstuff to a cross section of widows in Ebubu, Dennis Naku, Port Harcourt.
Ten thousand practice books have been given to pupils at the Community Secondary School, Ebubu, in the Eleme Local Government Area of the Rivers State by the Nigerian Army’s 29 Battalion which is part of the 6 Division, Port Harcourt.
Additionally, the Army provided palliatives to widows and orphans in Eleme LGA, Aleto villages, and Ebubu areas.
According to the Army, the purpose of the gesture was to foster goodwill in the fight against criminal activity between the military and the communities in Rivers State.
The items were delivered to the two communities in Eleme on Friday by the 29 Battalion, led by Major General Jamal Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army.
While distributing the supplies, Lieutenant Colonel Ishaya Manga, the commanding officer of 29 Battalion, Nigerian Army, stated that the people-oriented mindset of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the chief of staff, and the non-kinetic strategy to combating criminality in the state were complementary.
Manga stated, “It would be recalled that on the 13th of October, 2023, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, flagged off an exercise known as Operation Still Water Three here in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
“Part of the exercise is designed to get rid of criminal activities within Rivers State, the exercise is not only conducted by the military alone, other security agencies are also involved in the exercise.
“The community leaders, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in Rivers State are also part of the operation.
“We have seen that using the kinetic approach alone would not guarantee the successful conduct of this exercise and that was why the non-kinetic approach was also adopted in line with the kinetic approach so that we can actualise the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.”
In line with the philosophy of the Chief of Army Staff, under the leadership of Major General J H Abdussalam, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has directed us to select some of those less privileged homes and vulnerable communities to express our hands of non-kinetic activities.”
Manga, further said the initiative started a month ago, pointing out that other communities have earlier benefited.
He added, “We have started this exercise since last month, especially, we have visited four orphanage homes and distributed palliatives.
“We have also given palliatives to Obele and Ebubu communities, apart from giving out palliatives, we have distributed 10,000 exercise books of 40 leaves to about seven secondary schools within Rivers State.
“Some of those secondary schools are Ebubu community junior and senior secondary schools, Township Model Primary Schools 1 and 2, World Book Capital City Model Primary Schools and St Cyprian Primary School, Port Harcourt
“Others are Community Secondary School Egberu, Ndoki, Community Secondary School, Anyama and Community Secondary School Okoloma in Oyigbo Local Government Area.”
Students at Community Secondary School, Ebubu, were given exercise books by the Nigerian Army’s 29 battalion, 6 DIV.
Students at Community Secondary School, Ebubu, were given exercise books by the Nigerian Army’s 29 battalion, 6 DIV.
The Sister-in-charge of Aleto, Reverend Sister Chika Maria, the Love Crucified Orphanage home, expressed her satisfaction upon receiving the donated products, stating that this was the first time such a large group of military personnel had visited.
Aken Charity, a widow from the Ebubu community who received the palliatives, expressed her gratitude to the Army for the kindness.
Speaking, Mr. Nkara Barine, the principal of Community Secondary School Ebubu, who accepted the notebooks, promised that they would be used responsibly.