Army Reorganizes Exercise Harbin Kunama III

The Nigerian Army has embarked on the reorganization and expansion of the mandate the Exercise HARBIN KUNAMA III currently operating in Zamfara state to effectively ensure the complete defeat of the fleeing bandits.

The Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai stated this while briefing the press at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

The development, according to him, is to restore public confidence and enhance safety while also ensuring socio-economic activities continue without fear or intimidation in Zamfara state and its environs.

Lt Gen Buratai who was represented at the occasion by the Chief of Training and Operations(CTOPs) of the Nigerian Army, Major General Lamidi Adeosun said the reorganization will entail the involvement of other sister security agencies in form of Joint Task Force(JTF) to rid the zone of criminal elements.

“It is on this premise that I want to plead with the general public to persevere in the face of seeming inconveniences due to restrictions that may be imposed in these areas while the Nigerian Army is conducting the exercise”.

He noted that the “Nigerian Army mandate is aimed at building confidence and ensuring our country is rid of criminal elements that are poised to destabilize the normal life, rights and freedom of the people across the country as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution”.

“I want to assure the general public that the Nigerian Army will carry out its constitutional mandate professionally and within the ambit of the law while adhering to the Rules of Engagement (ROE)”

He appealed to the general public to claim ownership of the security of the country and willfully avail the Army with credible information that will assist in flushing out subversive and criminal elements from their hideouts and safe haven.

“Be rest assured that the Nigerian Army will continue to support the non-kinetic efforts of the civil authority to combat criminality and banditry as well as prevent it from gaining traction and spreading to other relatively peaceful regions of the country”, he said.

The Army Chief also appreciated the traditional rulers and religious leaders and further enjoin them to continue to support the Army with credible information that will assist in the professional conduct of our exercises and operations to rid the area of banditry and criminality.

“They are encouraged to continue to galvanize their subjects and followers to tow the path of peaceful resolution of conflicts rather than resulting to violence which does nobody any good. I use this medium to once again call on all religious leaders to pray for the success of our exercise and operations as well as pray for the total eradication of insecurity in our country”, he said.