The Nigerian Army says it will continue to be apolitical in the discharge of its constitutional duties in all the commands across the country.
This is according to the General Officer Commanding, 6 division, Major General Kasimu Abdulkarim during a meeting with journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Major General Abdulkarim who is the pioneer GOC of the division which oversees command operations of in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Bayelsa states stated that the restructuring is part of efforts to reposition the Army to deal with militancy and other forms of criminality in the Niger Delta.
“Today, the war on terror has now recorded tremendous gains. The achievements notwithstanding, there still exist a myriad of security challenges. The coas therefore, thought it expedient that 6 years after the last orbat was approved for the Nigerian Army, it becomes imperative to embark on a purposeful review of the orbat hence, the 2016 orbat.
This review gave birth to 6 division covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States.
The division comprises 2, 16 and 63 brigades with support elements.
This arrangement would help to curtail the activities of the movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, banditry, kidnapping, inter communal clashes, Niger Delta Avengers and pipeline vandalism prevalent in the area”.
According to him, the 2 brigade which used to be in Port Harcourt has been moved to Akwa Ibom state while the division will operate from Rivers State.