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Tag: Operation Crocodile Smile II

  • Reports of ‘killer injection’ by military false, we support Operation Crocodile Smile II – Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Government on Saturday lent its support to the ongoing military training operation and its community relations component by the Nigerian Army in the Niger Delta.

    Governor Seriake Dickson urged the people of the state to discountenance the rumour that the exercise, christened ‘Operation Crocodile Smile II’, which includes free medical care, would endanger the health and safety of the people.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Francis Agbo in Yenagoa, Dickson made the call while receiving a letter of commendation from the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    Dickson, who described the rumour as unfounded, urged Nigerians not to panic, rather cooperate with the military in discharging its medical outreach and community support initiatives.

    Reiterating his administration’s commitment toward sustaining the prevailing peace, security and stability in the state, Dickson assured the Nigerian Army and other security agencies of greater support in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

    He explained that the state government had donated a large expanse of land for the building of a barrack in Yenagoa and a Forward Operations Base at the western senatorial district to enhance security.

    “The military and other security agencies are a force for good and I want to use this opportunity to call on community leaders to continue to support the military.

    “We can’t have a Nigerian military that is coming here to inject people with poisonous substances.

    “That is not the army we have. This is our own army. These are our brothers, friends and fellow Nigerians, who mean well for all of us.’’ Dickson said.

    The CoAS, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, commended Dickson for the invaluable support to his administration.

    Buratai said the support included the provision of land for building a barracks, a Forward Operation Base and creating a conducive environment for the Army to tackle insecurity in the state.

    Delivering a letter of appreciation from the Nigerian Army, he lauded the people of Bayelsa for their understanding, cooperation, and pledged that the Army would redouble efforts in tackling security challenges in the country.

    The Chief of Army Staff, in the letter intimated Dickson of the Army’s intention to carry out its medical outreach programme and donation of educational materials to various communities.

     

  • Operations Python Dance, Crocodile Smile launched in Nigerians’ interest – Army

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that the Operation Python Dance II embarked upon by the Nigerian Army in the South East as well as the Operation Crocodile Smile II in the South South and South West zones were launched to guarantee the safety of Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion.

    He assured that the Nigerian Army would continue to remain apolitical, professional and responsive in the discharge of its constitutional duties while it would continue to obey the rule of law and remain guided by the rules of engagement.

    Buratai revealed this in a paper he presented on Friday at the executive session of the second day of the 13th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) and Extraordinary Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj. Gen. Enobong Udoh, said: “The Nigerian Army belongs to the Nigerian people and it is poised to remain the pride of the nation and the last man in its defence.

    “In order to maintain the pride, I have laid structures for effective leadership and personnel management, because the Nigerian Army must strive to remain an institution of authority that creates responsibilities, provide direction, inspiration, vision and communicate same to personnel at all times.

    “By going in this direction, the Nigerian Army is poised to confront evolving internal and external threats, in order to guarantee the sovereignty of our dear country.

    “In so doing, we are avowed to remain firmly apolitical in order to always find ourselves in a good stead to defend our constitution by providing the needed security environment as a guarantee for the survival of our democracy.”

    Buratai also stated that his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff on July 13, 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari came at a time Boko Haram insurgents had instilled fear in the psyche of Nigerians and most of the troops’ locations were lost to the control of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    He noted that quite unfortunately, many officers and men of the Nigerian army lost their lives to insurgency, leading to a general dampening of troops’ morale and fighting spirit across the entire theatre.

    The army chief stressed that upon his appointment, he was naturally confronted with the urgent need to take workable measures aimed at reversing the ugly trend and begin a positive drive towards winning a decisive victory against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    He said: “On December 22, 2016, our gallant troops decimated the insurgents and took over Camp Zairo in Sambisa Forest from them, in what was definitely a landmark development in the ongoing fight against insurgency in the Northeast, as Camp Zairo, which was hitherto the command headquarters of the Boko Haram leadership, was captured by our gallant troops.

    “The location is now a training area designated Lt. Col. Abu Ali Shooting Range. The troops are almost through with ongoing efforts at completely flushing out remnants of the insurgents from their hideouts in other parts of the forest.

    “The challenges of cattle rustling, herdsmen and farmers’ clashes and kidnappings in some Northern states and the Middle Belt are being tackled through the conduct of Operation MESA in all the states in the country.

    “The challenges of increased militancy, pipeline vandalism and kidnapping in the Southern part of the country have been accorded appropriate attention.”

    Buratai also stated that under his watch, the performances of troops in assigned operational tasks were being complemented by sustainable welfare programmes.

    He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his immense support for the Nigerian Army while reassuring him of the unflinching loyalty and commitment of the Nigerian Army to the defence of democratic governance in Nigeria.

    The session was chaired by a former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba. It also had in attendance a former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhaji Waheed Odusile; and the President of NGE, Funke Egbemode, among other eminent personalities.

    Papers were also presented by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, and the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Mr. Ebisintei Awudu, among others.

     

  • Operation Crocodile Smile II will tackle Badoo cult menace – Army

    The Nigerian Army on Wednesday defended its launch of ‘Operation Crocodile Smile II’ insisting it will curtail the excesses of the Badoo cult group and other security challenges currently experienced in the South West region.

    This was revealed on Wednesday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

    Usman noted that the military operations – Egwu Eke II and Crocodile Smile II – like the earlier operations, were not targeted at “any particular ethnic group or group of individuals.”

    In his words: “Let me tell you. I made reference to Operation Crocodile Smile, because there is so much mischief and misinformation in respect of Exercise Egwu Eke II. What we are saying is that the exercise is not targeted at any particular ethnic group or a group of persons.

    “The army needs to train because in the event of being called upon by the civic authorities, we will know what to do. So, we are looking at large-scale security challenges and we train on those aspects. Last year, we had all these exercises based on the challenges at that time.

    “But this year, there are issues associated with criminalities such as Badoo and other cult-related activities. The problems associated with the North-West are different from the South-South or the South-East or a combination of both. The whole idea is that these exercises are routine and some people only blow things out of proportion. But we mean well and we just want to train our troops to be more professional,” Usman noted.