He gave the commendation, while unveiling the Nigerian Army 63 Brigade’s exercise Still Water at the Brigade Base Camp along the Asaba-Benin Expressway.
Okowa, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, said military training exercises were conducted globally to avoid weaknesses, adding that they are aimed at strengthening and accessing troops’ operational and combat readiness.
He noted that the training was strategic to broaden the knowledge and increase combat and mental readiness of officers and men as untrained personnel would constitute a menace to the military.
The governor maintained that the rising security challenges in the country had prioritised training requirements in the army, adding that the Nigerian Army should be forward thinking, innovative and progressive to understand how internal security and warfare are evolving and adapt to meet the challenges.
He, therefore, urged the people to support and cooperate with security operatives by being security conscious at all times, stressing that by doing so, they will know the activities in their environment and urged them to adopt the slogan: See Something, Say Something.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army and Land Component Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, said exercise Still Water would be conducted in the four brigades under the division in all military formations and units.
Mohammed, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. Emmanuel Ikomi, noted that the exercise commenced simultaneously in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states and urged the troops to discharge their duties in line with stipulated rules of engagement.
He disclosed that the exercise would be based on real time intelligence on the prevailing security threats, which would dovetail into checkmating criminality, as the yuletide season approaches.
He said the exercise would be conducted jointly by troops of the 63 Brigade, Asaba and personnel from paramilitary agencies drawn from the various commands in the state, stressing that it would also strengthen civil military relations.
On his part, Commander, 63 Brigade, Asaba, Brig.- Gen. Abdulrahman Idris, said exercise Still Water was planned to engage and prepare troops for combat anytime the need arose.
He noted that the exercise would cover all areas of security concerns in the state particularly in the ‘ember’ that usually attracted criminal activities, hence the need to checkmate the rise in the state.
He noted observed that the rising illegal bunkering, kidnapping, armed robbery, pipeline vandalism, internet fraud, ritual killings and militancy, necessitated the need for the exercise.
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