Ude Chukwu, deputy governor of Abia state, says citizens of the state are comfortable with Operation Python Dance II, which he described as a wonderful exercise.
Chukwu said this when Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, visited the 82 division headquarters of the military exercise located at the Nigeria Army Language Institute (NALI) Ovim in Isuikwuato local government area of the state.
The deputy governor said the motive of the operation, despite all the propaganda surrounding it, was to check criminal activities.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigeria army saying “Abia is better for it security wise”.
Chukwu said a similar military exercise was conducted last year in Abia, and that it yielded good results in keeping criminals at bay; hence he could not understand why Operation Python Dance II should be dogged by controversy.
“So, I would like to tell Abians and Nigerians to know that this exercise (Python Dance) is not targeted at civilians like the propaganda going on (portrays). No, it is a routine exercise that soldiers conduct,” he said, adding, “I want everybody to realise that the soldiers meant well for us as a state; they meant well for us as a people.”