The Nigerian Army via the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Major General Anthony Bamidele Omozoje has stepped into Edo State with a view to setting up a robust follow-up heightened security arrangement in order to curb the lawless activities of the alleged hoodlums who are disturbing the peace of the state.
Colonel Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army disclosed this in a release he personally signed and made available to naijatodaynews.com.
According to him,”Nigerian youths embarked on a peaceful protest tagged”EndSARS” early October 2020 to demand the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SASR) unit, as well as other reforms in the Nigeria Police. What started out as a peaceful demonstration by thousands of youths, degenerated into chaos after the protests were hijacked by hoodlums”.
“The hijacked protest was now characterized by the heavy presence of mob attacks on security personnel, killings and vandalization of public and private properties”.
“Benin City, Edo State Capital was left devastated by the activities of hoodlums. The city was ravaged by hoodlums in the days leaving many parts of the state with burnt buildings, looted shops, destroyed properties and Correctional center break (Prison break). The Edo State main Correctional facility situated at Sapele road, Benin City broken and inmates let loose into the city and the State at large”.
“As a result, crime has increased in the State. The Edo State Government immediately imposed 24 hour curfew, from 4pm daily, and from19 October 2020”.
“The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje yesterday, 19 November 2020 stepped in to set up a robust follow-up heightened security arrangement in the State. Consequently, he invited all security stake holders in the State to an emergency meeting at Headquarters 4 Brigade, Benin City. Heads of all security agencies and their representatives attended the meeting and immediate Operational step-ups was put in place to go after the criminals and the catered away weapons and ammonitions in the State. And, an additional 7 days confew has been approved by the State government”.
“The number of days for the curfew could be increased until the desired end-state is achieve. Maj Gen Anthony Bamidele Omozoje has earlier imposed same measure in Osun, Kwara and Oyo States. The Area of Responsibility of 2 Division Nigerian Army cover 6 States: Edo, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States.Covering 3 of the 6 geopolitical zones of the federation. And in internal security arrangement, 2 Division Nigerian Army Area of Responsibility extends to some parts of Niger State”.
“During the emergency meeting held at Headquarters 4 Brigade Benin City with all the heads of security agencies in the State, Maj Gen AB Omozoje emphasis the need for collaboration or synergy ” Is a vital mechanism for conflict management and containing insecurity” he stressed.
“The General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen AB Omozoje today, 20 November 2020 during his courtesy visit to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Governor praised General Omozoje for being proactive in putting end to criminality perpetrated by hoodlums who hijacked the peaceful ENDSARS protest in States under 2 Division Nigerian Army. Maj Gen AB Omozoje also visited the Assistant Inspector General of Police in- charge of Zone 5, at the Headquarters, Zone 5, Nigeria Police, Benin City, AIG Sholla David”, Mohammed explained.
