The Defence Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja said troops would move across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, in support of the nascent democracy.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major Gen John Enenche, disclosed that the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Police Force, the Brigade of Guards, the Department of States Security, DSS, the National Intelligency Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
Major Gen. Enenche who addressed journalists as the Chairman of the Forum of Security and Response Agencies, noted that the movement of troops throughout Nigeria would begin on 1st of July.
Others are the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Prisons Service, the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and the Federal Fire Service.
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) are also expected to participate in the match.
Gen Enenche reiterated that henceforth, the match would hold quarterly across the country.
Explaining why the match becomes inevitable, the DDI expatiated that it was as a result of the tension generated in the polity following the alarm raised by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Tukur Buratai that some civilians were approaching soldiers to interrupt the political
process.
He maintained that it is a corporate exercise meant to foster interaction and good understanding among the Security and Response Agencies, especially in the face of comtemporary security challenges in the country.
Gen. Enenche said the exercise tagged “Together We Are” would be conducted on quartely basis and the slogan would be Together We Are: Protecting Lives and Property, Ensuring Unity and Progress, Supporting Democracy, Upholding the Constitution, and Defending National Interests.
“It is in view of these, that a Route March Exercise titled “TOGETHER WE ARE” is to be conducted on quarterly basis involving the Military, Para Military and Security Responses Agencies in Nigeria. The slogan for the Exercise is: ”TOGETHER WE ARE ”