Army’s 82 Division warns criminals to stay away from South East during yuletide

82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu has warned criminals to steer clear of its territory in the South East during the yuletide.

Deputy Director of Army Public Relations in the division, Col. Sagir Musa, handed the warning, said the division had mapped out plans to reduce crime during the yuletide to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

Musa said many people engaged in criminal activities like armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and cultism during the period which hindered peaceful celebration, saying the division would establish three brigades in the five states of the South East to put criminal activities in check with a view to arresting any culprit.

According to him, there is always an increase in crime during the yuletide and the army saw the need to put some measures in place to reduce such acts, saying the operation will be on intelligence report but each brigade will conduct road blocks, stop-and-search and check-points to prevent such activities during the celebrations.

He said many people want insecurity to continue because they benefit from it but their actions will be detrimental to them this season, saying the army was committed to ensuring that peace, unity and development prevailed in the South East and Nigeria in general, adding that the division would be considerate in carrying out its action to ensure that innocent citizens were not harmed.

The army spokesman said that the crime prevention programmes would be conducted in collaboration with other security agencies in the South East.