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Residence who live in the lagos state waterways area have heaved a sigh of relief as they were able to celebrate the Christmas season without fear of been kdnapped.
Their relief is as a result of the unrelenting efforts of the joint task force (AWATSE) comprising, the military, Navy, Airforce and other security agencies and to further assure the good people of the state, operation JAGUNLABI, a show of force both on land and on the waterways was carried out Thursday at the Ikorodu area of the state.
Acording to Admiral Silvanus Abbah “Jagunlabi is a show of force to tell the bad boys that we are here for them and it is a joint force. A joint force cannot be done alone, it must be a combined effort and that is what we are all about, the Army is here, Air force, Navy, Police and other sister security operatives. We all need to work hand in hand to make the state a better place.”
He layed emphasy on the fact people who celebrated their Christmas in Lagos can testify to the fact that it was a very peaceful and is probably the most peaceful Christmas ever celebrated in Lagos especially at the waterways areas.
“We have been working clandestinely before now and that is why we want to show you how far we have progressed so that Lagosians can see that we have been working while they were sleeping.
“Before now, criminals have been operating on the high seas,pirating and robbing on the seas but we have been able to curb them. The perpetrators though have informants in Lagos, they are not based in Lagos.
“They come from the Niger-Delta like the last attack incidence that happened last in Lagos, we have arrested five of them and non of them is a Lagos residence and we are still working to apprehend their Lagos informants and accomplices.
” Lagos is a pub of all activities, the markets are here, the business men and women are here, the ports are also here and these hoodlums know that anybody kidnapped in Lagos will fetch them handsome ransom, so, they plan and come here by the sea to carry out their plans but we are at alert and ready for them.
“As you can see, they didn’t come to disrupt our celebration because they know we are here.
“I must commend our men for making sure that Lagos celebrates her festival peacefully.” Admiral Abbah stated further.
He explained that the exercise is a continuum and that it is only logical that they have discussions with officers and men to know their challenges,interact with them and map out strategies that will be of further assistance in making their job more successful.
“Before now magidun was a no go area but today,as you can see, everybody is operating freely without fear. We are working on making all the “impenetrable places” penetrable for a more freer and conducive environment.” Abbah said
On why the operation is tagged jagunlabi, he responded that the operation is happening on yoruba soil hence the name(Jagunlabi).
He also said that whatever is been done is a military exercise and assures residence that that is going to be a operation.
“Jagunlabi is a show of force to tell the bad boys that we are here for them and it is a joint force. A joint force cannot be done alone, it must be a combined effort and that is what we are all about, the Army is here, Air force, Navy, Police and other sister security operatives. We all need to work hand in hand to make the state a better place.
The show of force took place in all the back waters of Lagos and its environment while imota, ibese,ijede, maya area of the state where not left out.
Present at the operation Jagunlabi show of force are GOC 81division, Major General Dauke Peter, FOC Western Naval Command, Admiral silvanus Abbah. AOC Air-vice Marshall ibrahim Yahaya.Commander Navy Ship BEECROFT, Admiral Maurice Eno.
