Akpabio's Big Push To Curb Crime; Launches Operation Thunder With 131 Security Vans

UYO, January 23, (THEWILL) – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio Monday moved to deal with criminals and law breakers in the oil rich state with the commissioning of 131 branded Hilux vehicles fitted with state of the art communication and crime fighting hardware for the security outfit code named Operation Thunder.

Akpabio, at the commissioning of Operation Thunder, a joint task force on security in Akwa Ibom state, said, “never has the forces which seek to destroy us collided so much with forces which seek to preserve us; never have the forces of evil bared their fangs like we have seen today in our country.”

In spite of all the threats and the bombings, the kidnappings and abductions so prevalent in the country, Akpabio however pledged an undying commitment to the social contract between the government and the governed, such commitment he declared has strengthened his resolve to combat crime to a standstill, hence the birth of ‘Operation Thunder’.

Operation Thunder, rebranded from the former Operation Aduma, is a joint task force made up of valiant men deployed from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police force, State Security Service, Nigerian Navy, among others. It is saddled with the responsibility of chasing down every bandit and keeping in step with the perpetrators of evil in the state.

While commending the men who were involved in Operation Aduma for giving their best and pledging his support for families of those who lost their lives while actively endeavouring to secure the state, Akpabio however warned against the diversion of the vehicles to uses other than protection of lives and properties, through active policing.

Liking security with development Akpabio said; “we cannot do the things we have done, be involved in the infrastructural renaissance of our state, seek to turn it into a destination and then allow some miscreants to undo them by making the state insecure.”

While calling on every indigene and resident of the state to see his or herself as a member of the campaign to exterminate insecurity in the land, he implored all to report persons with suspicious lifestyles and inexplicable income to law enforcement agencies.

The high point of the launch was the commissioning of the 131 branded vehicles and a cash donation of N100, 000 each to the over 1000 men of the security outfit by the governor.