The RIVERS State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared his support for the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ started by the Nigerian Army to fight militancy and other crimes in the Niger Delta.
Wike promised that the state government would do everything within its power to ensure peace and security in the Niger Delta.
This is as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, explained that the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ was introduced to train army personnel on the techniques of operating in the Niger Delta region.
The governor spoke on Monday when he received Buratai and other senior army officers, who visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
“The Rivers State Government is fully in support of the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile.’ I was fully briefed by the Brigade Commander and we associate ourselves with the programme because it will make the Niger Delta safer.
“One of the advantages of the programme is that hoodlums in the creeks are being uprooted for a safer Niger Delta. I support the programme in so far as it is done with the constitution.
“Rivers State Government will sustain its support for security agencies to create the right atmosphere for democratic governance,” he added.
Wike added that the state government had procured six new armoured personnel carriers for the police and was currently in the process of concluding the acquisition of 10 gunboats for the Nigerian Navy.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff had said that the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ would ensure that the security challenges in Niger Delta were addressed and peace would be enhanced.
“The ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ is an exercise to train our troops on amphibious operations. Our waters are generally porous.
“The Nigerian Army has amphibious capabilities in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy to carry out limited operations within the creeks,” Buratai said.
He pointed out that another aspect of ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ would witness the army intervening in critical areas of need for the communities, adding that the Nigerian Army had already embarked on medical outreach in Bille (Rivers State) and Nembe (Bayelsa State).
PUNCH NG
