The Nigerian army says it has deployed troops for the
commencement of Operation Crocodile Smile in the
six Niger Delta states .
Enobong Udoh, general officer commanding (GOC) 6
division in Port Harcourt, said this on Saturday while
addressing troops to signal the commencement of the
exercise.
Udoh said the operation was confidence-building
patrol rather than a show of force as is being reported.
“Operation Crocodile Smile is a confidence-building
patrol that seeks to reassure the people of Rivers state
and the Niger Delta that the army is ready to work,” he
said.
“We are ready to work in close synergy and
collaboration with other security services and agencies
of government to ensure that there is peace and
security for the people.
“Our operation aims to reassure the public that we are
ready to fight crimes like cultism, militancy, and
kidnapping so that people can go about their business
without fear.”
Udoh further said troops would carry out collaborative
patrols with the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety
Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service and the
Department of State Security.
Others are Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps,
Nigerian Customs Service and personnel of the
Nigerian Prison Service.
He said the 6 division would carry out the exercise in
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states while
another formation would cover other states in the Niger
Delta.
“Army, police and other security services were
established to ensure peace; enforce law and order
and create the enabling environment for economic
activities to thrive,” he said
“This is our ultimate mandate, and, as such, we urge
Nigerians to give us the necessary support to enable
us to succeed.”
The three weeks exercise is slated to hold from
October 7 to October 28.
TheCable
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