‘Cross River needs increased military presence’ – Gov Otu

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has called for a greater military presence in all parts of the state.

He made the call Monday while addressing members of Study Group 4, Senior Course 46 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, Nigeria, who were in his office on a courtesy visit

Otu said: “We need more military and technical support in Cross River State. This demand has become imperative given that the state is bounded by other African countries as well as having one of the longest coastlines in the country.

“We share some of the longest boundaries in land, air, and maritime. So you can imagine.

He noted that an increased military presence in Cross River would curb skirmishes along the state’s borders.

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Gov Otu expressed delight at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College’s choice of Cross River as one of the states for the study tour and emphasised the need for better synergy to strengthen the security framework in the state.

“Some parts of our state are like war fronts, and we have just about four military formations in Cross River,” he said.

Otu commended Nigeria’s Armed Forces for their invaluable contributions to national security, stability, and the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.

He urged Nigerians to be proud of their Armed Forces, whose gallant men put their lives on the line to maintain Nigeria’s sovereignty as one indivisible entity.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director, Department of Joint Studies and Team Leader of Study Group 4, Senior Course 46 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Brigadier General Nicolas Rume, informed that the Armed Forces Command and Staff College is a joint service institution established to produce operational-level military officers of the highest professional standard as well as to ensure standardisation of staff duties in the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Speaking of their study tour of Cross River, Rume said: “We are here to assess the efficiency of the Armed Forces in tackling insecurity. At the end of the day, we would report our findings and make possible recommendations on ways to improve our security.”