The 82 Division of the Nigerian
Army on Sunday declared that its ongoing Field Training Exercise Codenamed
Exercise EGWU EKE (Python Dance) II in the Southeast region will continue.
Soldiers have been carrying out
raids against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and their
leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The declaration may not be
unconnected will calls by stakeholders, including Southeast governors, for
withdrawal of troops.
But Army explained that the
Exercise which started on 15th September and will last till 14th October 2017,
is meant to sharpen the skills the troops in the conduct of Internal Security
Operations.
This is contained in a statement
by Colonel Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian
Army.
Musa said the exercise is also
aimed to combating the security challenges in the Southeast and is well
equipped to deal with the rising cases of insecurity such as kidnappings,
farmers-herdsmen clashes, cultism, armed robbery, communal crisis, violent
secessionist agitations, insurgency among others.
It reads further: “For emphasis,
it is necessary to restate that the exercise and similar ones with different
coded names in some parts of the country were deliberately initiated and
conducted with an overarching aim of checkmating identified security challenges
prevalent in the regions where they were carried out.
“Some of the successful military
exercises include: Operation Sharan Daji in tackling livestock rustling and
armed banditry in the Northwest; Operation Awatse to tackle militants and oil
installation vandals in South-West, especially in the creeks between Lagos and
Ogun States; Operation Shirin Harbi in addressing restiveness in the
North-East, especially Bauchi and Gombe States; Op Shirin Harbi in containing
the rein of killers in Southern Kaduna; Op Harbin Kunama in resolving rustling
and armed banditry in forest along Sokoto-Zamfara axis and Op Crocodile Smile, popular
in the South-South to combat Criminal elements engaged in the the destruction
of oil pipelines and installations.
“The first PYTHON DANCE exercise
was carried out in the South Eastern Region from 27 November – 27 December
2016. The peculiar security challenges in the region such as kidnapping,
abduction, armed robbery, farmers – herdsmen clashes, communal crisis, traffic
gridlock and violent secessionist agitation among others as the targets of this
Exercise were successfully addressed.
“The concept of the current
Exercise, like the previous one is purely Command Post, Field Training and Real
Time Exercise.
“It is aimed to enhance troops’
agility and preparedness across spectrum of contemporary and emerging security
challenges peculiar to South Eastern Region.
“The Exercise is three in one, in
that – it was – deliberately designed as – a Command Post Exercise that
transmuted into Field Training Exercise and where necessary dovetailed into
real time mission or activities such as anti kidnapping drills, Patrols, Raids,
Cordon and Search, Check Points, Road Blocks and Show of Force.
“One interesting aspect of the
Exercise is that it is multi agency in nature and execution. Relevant
Para-Military organizations such as elements of the Nigerian Police Force,
Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Services and Federal
Road Safety Commission synergized and collaborated to ensure successful
execution and attainment of outlined objectives.
“Also, the non-reliance on only
Military Line of Operation to achieve the end states of the exercise was part
of the texture of the strategy. For this reason, an elaborately generous Civil
– Military Cooperation Line of Operation had been successfully planned and
executed during this exercise.
“In this regard, some relevant
Nigerian Army Corps and Services such as the Medical Corps and Engineers Corps
carried out medical outreaches, roads and schools repairs across the South
Eastern Region.
“On the whole, the exercise has
numerous objectives. Some of which are; to practice participating units on
planning, preparation and conduct of Internal Security Operations, intensify
training on Counter Terrorism and Internal Security Operations as well as to
deter the activities of kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and violent
secessionist agitators.
“Others are – synergizing with
relevant Para- Military services to address the identified threats and
sharpening the skills of troops towards curtailing current and emerging
security challenges peculiar to the South Eastern Region.
“Please note, Exercise EGWU EKE
II is not targeted at any individual or group, as law abiding citizens are
advised to go about their normal businesses without fear.”
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