By Augustine Ehikioya
To sustain security and peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs in the ember months, the Guards Brigade on Tuesday flagged off its annual joint operation.
Among the security agencies represented at the Forward Operation Base (FOB), Kwali, included Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, DSS, NDLEA, Civil Defence, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Vigilantes.
At the flag off of the ‘Exercise Enduring Peace’ covered by Security Watch Africa (SWA), the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier General, Mohammed Tukuru Usman, tasked the joint team to observe rules of engagement in their stride to storm the criminals hideouts.
The Commander, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Col. Peter Oyegoke, also urged them to push harder to nip the activities of the criminals in the bud, since they already know their hideouts.
According to him, the Exercise Enduring Peace is an offshoot of other already ongoing security operations, like the Exercise North Cracker and G7, which have been on in the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
“It is not a one stand operation. It is to augment the existing operations,” he stated.
He explained further that the yearly Operation is aimed at checkmating all security threats capable of making lives unbearable especially as the festive period and the next General Elections draw closer.
He encouraged all the security agencies represented to feel free to express their opinions towards having a successful exercise.
He also urged them to continue to remain discipline in carrying out the assignment.
Speaking earlier, the Commanding Officer of the 176 Guards Battalion, Lt Col Joshua Kolowale Adisa said the Exercise will focus on both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to sustain peace and security in the FCT and its environs.
He said “Once we kick start this exercise today, we will begin to launch operations to checkmate these criminalities in our area of responsibility.
“This Enduring Peace will not clash with G7. G7 will continue to hold. But we cannot sit in our Barracks and launch Enduring Peace.
“This Exercise is going to afford us the room to project operations into these areas where these bandits are operating from,” he added.
Noting that the Exercise which is expected to last for three months, is also to further boost synergy and inter-agency co-operation.
“One of the aims of this exercise is to also enhance civil-military relationship as well as to booster interagency collaboration,” he stated.
As part of the civil-military relation, he said that villages that don’t have water will be identified towards sinking boreholes, while there will also be free medical outreach.
In the period, he said that there would be intensive stop and search operations along all route within the FCT and it’s environs among other measures to be taken.
Giving security updates, the Intelligence Officer, M.S. Mashe, noted that kidnapping, armed robbery, communal clashes, banditry, hit and run are among security challenges in the FCT.
According to him, the Exercise Enduring Peace has given the platform to flush out the criminals as the Yuletide season sets in.
The joint troops have already began clearance Operations within Kwali and Abaji Area Councils in the FCT.