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Army moves in troops, heavy weapons in Niger Delta

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A war-zone-like situation is expected in South-South, as Nigerian Army is set to move in troops, heavy weapons and machinery to the region.

This is as the Army on Thursday night, said that its training exercise for the Niger Delta code named “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in 82 Division and part of 2 Division with responsibility traversing the South-South geo-political region will commence this weekend.

The Army said in a statement signed by Col Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations that “the general public is please requested not to panic on the sight of unusual movement of large number of troops, heavy military weapons and equipment in these areas”

“The aim of the exercise is to practice our Special Forces and other units of the Nigerian Army in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine environment and also check criminal activities like kidnapping, militancy and piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority.”

Read also: Stop causing more problems, MEND tells Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai, had recently said that government will use force on militants in Niger Delta oil region, should the government dialogue with Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), fails to bring a lasting solution to the acts of militancy in the region.

While Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and some militants have been responsible for the destruction of oil installations in the region, which has adversely affected the economy of the country.

A number of the militant groups have alleged that the dialogue option is a ploy by government to acquire weaponry, and mobilise forces to bombard the region in search of them.

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