Army begins Operation Crocodile Smile in N’Delta
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army Port Harcourt has said that the Nigerian Army command headquarters will commence Operation Crocodile Smile in the Niger Delta region from this Saturday, October 7.
The Deputy Director of Public Relations, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Col Aminu Iliyasu, said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday that in line with the Nigerian Army’s Training Directive for the Year 2017, troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army Port Harcourt as well as its affiliated formations and units located within its entire Area of Responsibility such as Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states will be participating in the exercise.
He said the exercise would take troops through administration, operational, logistics as well as civilmilitary cooperation aspects that would include provision of free medical care to host communities and the conduct of sanitation exercises to be undertaken by the troops for the benefit of their host communities.
He said there would be free distribution of educational materials to schools as part of corporate social responsibility.
“The exercise will also aim at imparting to the troops the importance of equipment maintenance, reconnaissance, interservice and inter-agency cooperation, effective application of the Nigerian Army Code of Conduct as well as strict adherence to Rules of Engagement (ROE), proffer handling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and captured or surrendered hostile elements in line with international best practices. In light of the foregoing, the authorities of 6 Division Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public as well as solicit their usual understanding,” he stated.
The Nigerian Army had on Sunday disclosed plans to launch “Operation Crocodile Smile” to address the security challenges in Ogun State and its environs.
The Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Basil Adoke, said in Abeokuta at a reception organised by the state government to mark Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary.