Metro
Operation Crocodile Smile II storms N’Delta despite public outcry
Despite the several groups and individuals who have opposed the deployment of soldiers for civil duties, the Nigerian Army on Saturday declared the deployment of troops in the six Niger Delta states for the commencement of Operation Crocodile Smile II.
The announcement was made by Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, while addressing troops.
“Operation Crocodile Smile is not a show of force but a confidence-building patrol that seeks to reassure the people of Rivers state and the Niger Delta that the army is ready to work. 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 said.
According to him, the troops would while the operation last, carry out collaborative patrols with the Nigerian Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service, the Department of State Security (DSS) as well as Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigerian Customs Service and personnel of the Nigerian Prison Service.
He further said that the exercise would last from October 7 to October 28 in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states while another formation would cover other states in the Niger Delta.
This came despite the condemnation by several groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze and some notable individual in the country of “Operation Python Dance 11,” which the Army carried out in the five states of South-East part of the country.
READ ALSO: Buhari repeating mistakes that caused 1966 coup, Afenifere warns
A clash that emanated from that operation in Abia state reportedly left several civilians dead. It also led to the proscription and categorisation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the European Union, United Kingdom, United States as well as local groups as Ohanaeze, Afenifere among several others have refused to accept the IPOB terrorist tag.
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JOHNSON PETER
October 8, 2017 at 7:47 pm
Operation crocodile smile or dance they should have used to defeat Boko Haram is what they are exerting on harmless ipob, na wa for army sef
Abeni Adebisi
October 8, 2017 at 8:02 pm
The army is weak that’s why they can only use the evil operation on common civilians
Animashaun Ayodeji
October 8, 2017 at 7:58 pm
IPOB needs iron hand, but not these Operation crocodile smile, it is dehumanizing and for criminals, not pressure group members who cannot kill cockroaches
seyi jelili
October 9, 2017 at 5:35 am
There you come, who told you they can’t kill cockroaches, they can kill human being if you don’t know
Abeni Adebisi
October 8, 2017 at 8:01 pm
“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.” this is a big lie, it’s a means of intimidating the public and scare the hell out of citizens
Anita Kingsley
October 8, 2017 at 8:04 pm
A right thinking government will not use army instead of police. This government is abysmal
Balarabe musa
October 9, 2017 at 6:32 am
You are a fool, go read the duty of military, to protect the country’s internal and external security.