Logistics hamper army’s nationwide Python Dance

Despite its avowed declaration to begin the much trumpeted Operation Python Dance nationwide on January 1, 2019, the Nigerian Army could not live up to its promise, as the first month of the year gradually winds down.

Aside a very few places, such as Ondo and Bayelsa, where the military kick started the programme, it is evident that the Nigerian Army is yet to deploy its men for the operation in many communities visited by our correspondents across the country, as there were no visible signs of the soldiers or other uniformed personnel just as the people were waiting for the arrival of the combatants.

As of today, there are still expectations in many communities across the nation, though with mixed feelings, awaiting the arrival of the men in Khaki uniform. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, had last week in Maiduguri, through the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, set the commencement of the programme for the first day of the year.

However, checks by the Saturday Telegraph have revealed that the Nigerian Army failed to launch the project because of the lack of personnel to carry out the task. Highly placed military sources confided in the Saturday Telegraph that the Nigerian Army is presently overwhelmed with the Boko Haram insurgency, as such, could not deploy personnel for the nationwide operation.

New Telegraph, January 5, 2019

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