Army Establishes New Division In Port Harcourt

As part of efforts to combat rising security challenges in the Niger Delta region, the Nigerian Army has established a new Division known as ‘6 Div’ in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Daily Trust report continues:

Unveiling the new Division in Port Harcourt yesterday, the pioneer General Officer Commanding the Division, Maj. Gen. Kasimu Abdulkarim, said the presence of critical assets and infrastructure in the Niger Delta area necessitated the decision.

He said that despite the routine reviews of order of battle, varied and emerging security challenges in and around the country continued to expose gaps and loop holes, blaming the gap on several factors which he said included poor anticipation of future threats, inability to implement the order of battle as well as inadequate resources and lack of political will.

He said the new Division would help to curtail activities of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) banditry, inter communal clashes, illegal bunkering, kidnapping, robbery among others.

Abdulkarim noted that insecurity in the area impacts negatively on the country’s economy, stressing that everything must be done to protect the nation’s assets.

“The Army, from establishment has grown in strength to meet its constitutional role as enshrined in Section 217. It also downsized in preference for a compact and manageable Army that suits our national needs. Our Army operated a structure of 1,2, 3 Divisions during the civil war and 82 composite Division in 1975.

“Like other armies globally, it has continued to face force posture review in conformity with national security challenges since the civil war. Consequently, considerable efforts were evolved to codify order of battle for a more efficient structure apposite to confront peculiar society challenges”, he said.

General Abdulkarim, who said the new Division covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, said his mission as the pioneer commanding officer, was to structure, nurture and enhance the Division’s combat readiness across military operations through the development of a professionally responsive force in line with “our constitutional roles”.