Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has lauded the leadership of Nigerian security forces for their foresight in instituting the Operation Iron Gate security initiative in the South East zone ahead of the Yuletide celebrations.
The governor made this commendation in his address during the flag off of the Armed Forces exercise to help restore sanity in the state, with a promise to support the leadership of the security agencies to succeed in the three months assignment
Flagging off the operation on Wednesday, at its headquarters located at Super Camp Orlu, Uzodimma commended the security agencies for their vision in creating the centre to address the peculiar nature of the security situation in the South East zone and Imo State in particular.
Governor Uzodimma said: “This is a special period and season in the lives of not only Christians all over the world but the people of South East who are predominantly Christians coming back for the celebration of Christmas which usually starts from October to December.”
He reasoned that “the exercise would go a long way in improving on the security situation in the South East region and also give our people sense of security and further encourage our brothers and sisters who are resident abroad to come home because the area is safe and secure.”
He acknowledged the sacrifices the agencies of the Armed Forces have made and are still making to secure Imo State and assured them that “government will show sufficient appreciation at the appropriate time.”
In his brief welcome address, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General R.T. Utsaha explained that “Exercise Golden Dawn” is meant to “build on the gains so far recorded over the menace of IPOB and ESN by the security agencies so far” and that all “security agencies are involved in the exercise.”
He informed that troops of the Operation Golden Dawn will be quartered at Orlu for the rest of the year to ensure that socio- economic activities in the region and Imo State in particular will continue to take place unhindered.
