The newly deployed Commander of 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army Ebem Ohafia, Ohafia LGA, Abia State, Brigadier General Adegoke Adetuyi on Saturday joined the people of Ebem in marking its new yam festival (Iri Ji) which coincided with the Igba Ekpe festival.
Speaking at the event, Brigadier General Adetuyi expressed gratitude for the invitation of the community, saying the presence of army in the community is not to oppress or intimidate the locals but to offer them and the generality of Abians and Nigerians service.
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While urging the traditional rulers, community leaders, parents, and guardians to encourage their children, wards, and youths in the community to embrace peace, and security, the commander said officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army are committed to ensuring a harmonious relationship with their hosts.
“Sometimes when I go round this community on Mondays, I come to the market square, I feel very bad, why? Because the people are supposed to be making money, they are supposed to be engaging in their commercial activities, and trading.
“People are supposed to be going to their farms, the students are supposed to be in schools. Without all these, there cannot be development. If the students don’t go to school, how can they be educated? How can they attain a higher position in society, to be able to even speak for the community?
“If they don’t engage in economic activities, how can they support the growth of the community, we cannot continue to support criminality and expect development,” he said.
While attesting to the peace-loving nature of the community, he urged for the support of the people of Ebem Ohafia so that there will be peace, security, and development.
The people of the community traditionally welcomed the Commander and his men with the presentation of the yam.
Brigadier General Adetuyi in accepting the gift of the new yam appreciated it with the sum of N100,000.
