The Nigerian Army have announced the launch of tactical drills in Enugu State starting from this weekend.
The drill, code-named ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’, is aimed at equipping the Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine communities against the activities of Niger Delta militants.
The announcement, which was made on the Army’s Facebook Page yesterday, is coming on the heels of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s warning that the military would resort to force if the militants failed to embrace Federal Government’s peace talk.
Recall that Buratai, speaking through the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Ibrahim Atahiru, said the government was still committed to dialogue but could resort to the use of “Kinetic” force if dialogue failed.
He said, “Government is still committed to dialogue and whereby this cannot go on, then, there could be resort to other means. The non-kinetic (force) means has always been the source first before government can make recourse to the kinetic means.
“So, there is need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and engage in dialogue with government.”
The post reads, “The Nigerian Army will from this weekend commence another training exercise code named ‘EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE’ in 82 Division and part of 2 Division areas of responsibility traversing the South-South geo-political region.
“The aim of the exercise is to practice our Special Forces and other units of the Nigerian Army in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine environment and also check criminal activities like kidnapping, militancy and piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority.
“The general public is please requested not to panic on the sight of unusual movement of large number of troops, heavy military weapons and equipment in these areas
PUNCH NG
