Military Launches ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ …To Tackle Militants

The Nigerian Army has announced plans to launch tactical drills this weekend in Enugu, to cover all formations under the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
The drill, code-named ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile’, is aimed at equipping the Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine communities against the activities of Niger Delta militants.
The announcement, which was made on the Army’s Facebook Page, is coming on the heels of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai’s warning in Port Harcourt, last Monday, that the military would resort to force, if the militants failed to embrace Federal Government’s peace talks.
The Tide recalls that Buratai, speaking through the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Ibrahim Atahiru, had said the government was still committed to dialogue but could resort to the use of “Kinetic” force, if dialogue failed.
He said, “Government is still committed to dialogue and whereby this cannot go on, then, there could be resort to other means. The non-kinetic (force) means has always been the source first before government can make recourse to the kinetic means.
“So, there is need for the Niger Delta Avengers to see reason and engage in dialogue with government.”
The post reads, “the Nigerian Army will from this weekend commence another training exercise code named ‘EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE’ in 82 Division and parts of 2 Division areas of responsibility traversing the South-South geo-political region.
“The aim of the exercise is to practise 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.
“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,” it added.