Asare Asare, Calabar
13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army are conducting medical outreach in Bakassi LGA of Cross River State.
Increasing numbers of persons from mostly Bakassi and nearby Akpabuyo LGAs of the state have already received treatment.
Commander of the Brigade, Brigadier General Peter Malla said the medical outreach is part of their corporate social responsibility.
He said it is one of the highpoints of the Exercise Still Water launched at same venue in Ikang in Bakassi LGA of the state.
He said they are expecting huge turnout of natives and other residents to attend the medical clinics and benefit from the free professional attention from their medics.
The free medical attention includes health status check, blood pressure, sugar level, eye checks as well as actual treatment and referrals to recognised hospitals.
One of the beneficiaries, 70 year old Madam Eka Ekpo Ekpenyong from Esighi community commended the soldiers for the treatment, saying she would not have had the means to access such professional attention.
Meanwhile,
Brigadier general Malla said conduct of Exercise Still Water has commenced in parts of the state, explaining that it is aimed at curtailing insecurity and allow the people freedom to live in peace and safety.
He said operations which is multi-faceted will persist for three months from Ooctober 4 to December 2021.
Malla said the exercise is a field training exercise designed to give aid to civil authority, where troops will conduct operations in both land and riverine using the Super Camp Concept.
“The real time operations would be used as measure to defeat security threats in state ranging from kidnapping, armed banditry, arms smuggling, proliferation, militancy and cultism to mention a few.
“It would also serve as an avenue to assess commanders at all levels in their understanding and application of the tactics, techniques and procedures of various scenarios of Internal Security operations.
He added that they will consolidate on the gains of Exercise Crocodile Smile V conducted last year.
He said: “During the conduct of the exercise, participants are expected to conduct roadblocks, mobile patrols, Riverine patrols, cordon and search, crowd dispersal, VIP Protection, guarding of Key Points and Vulnerable Points, escort duties, imposition of curfew, rescue operations and raids to contain and deny freedom of action for criminals. They are also expected to practice continuous troops administration in the field as well as regular training and rehearsals and coordination for impending operations. The exercise will also entail logistics planning and support from the established Super Camp here in Ikang.”
Addressing the dignitaries of security agencies present including Obong of Calabar and other traditional heads, Governor Ben Ayade, represented by Dr Alfred Mboto, permanent secretary State security matters, expressed happiness for the exercise.
He assured that his government will accord necessary supports to its success.
“We are eager to sustain the peace prevailing, which reason we give our total supports to this and similar exercises, believing that it will complement our own internal security arrangements.”
“I urge the participants to desist from high-handedness and overzealousness during the exercise, while enhancing the civilian-military relationship.”