Heads of security agencies in Cross River, including the Nigerian Navy, have advised against rivalry among themselves in order to sustain the current onslaught against insecurity in the country.
The security heads called for synergy, professionalism, partnership, mutual respect and exhibition of high level of integrity to be able to sustain the momentum.
The security heads which include both military and paramilitary stated this on Saturday during the quarterly route exercise of security agencies in Calabar, Cross River.
The security agencies that took part in the exercise include Navy, Police, Army, Airforce, Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Correctional Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Commodore Rotimi Oderemi, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, Victory (NNS Victory), said the essence of the exercise was to break all the inhibiting factors against effective cooperation and collaboration of the security agencies in the state.
He said aside from the improvement of mental alertness of the personnel, the route exercise was organised to create an avenue for integration beyond the official line.
“Let this collaboration extend beyond this exercise, we want you all to be able to work as a unit; a team for the betterment of the society.
“You are the operators; we must show the example that we can collaborate, work as a team, show mutual respect for each other and deliver on our mandate.
“The general populace is looking at you with high expectations; they have confidence in you to deliver and we can’t afford to disappoint them,” he said.
On his part, the state Commissioner for Police, Gyogon Grimah, said the exercise signified the importance of unity among the security agencies to achieve the common goal of ridding the state and country of all forms of crime and criminality.
According to him, “We are all officers and men in the same front of activity, especially in ensuring there is proper and adequate security in the state and country.
“We are here to send the message across, that we are for each other; we will support ourselves to secure the state and country.
“All of us put together, are more than the criminals put together,” he said.
Similarly, Charles Brown, state Commandant of the NSCDC said absence of competition among the security agencies would yield the desired result in the fight against crime in the society.
Also, Air Commodore Chuks Illoh, Commandant 305, Nigerian Airforce, Calabar, said with the exercise, they have bonded and are now poised to serve the state and country better.
Deputy Comptroller Correctional Service, Juliet Johnbrosco and Deputy Corps Commandant, Eyong Eyong of the FRSC, both described the quarterly route exercise as a noble idea.