Nigerian Army kicks-off 90-day security operation in Cross River
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
13 Brigade of Nigerian Army has commenced a 90-day security operation in Ikang, Bakassi LGA of Cross River State.
The security operation is code named “Stillwater” and aims to check the rising incidences of militancy, kidnappings, cultism and such heightened crimes.
As part of the kick off ceremony, the army erected what they called a Super Camp where troops would be administered from.
Speaking, Commander of 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Peter Malla said it is a field training exercise designed to give aid to civil authority, where troops will conduct operations in both land and riverine using the Super Camp Concept.
He said that the exercise would dovetail into real time operations to defeat security threats within its area of operations.
“The real time operations would be used as measure to defeat security threats in state ranging from kidnapping, armed banditry, arms smuggling, proliferation, militancy and cultism to mention a few.
“It would also serve as an avenue to assess commanders at all levels in their understanding and application of the tactics, techniques and procedures of various scenarios of Internal Security operations”.
He added that they will consolidate on the gains of Exercise Crocodile Smile V conducted last year.
Brigadier General Malla said the exercise will maintain the tempo and ensure no respite for criminals.
He assured law abiding citizens that they will have the freedom to go about their legitimate activities during the course of the exercise.
In the course of the exercise, the army will conduct roadblocks, mobile patrols, Riverine patrols, cordon and search, crowd dispersal, VIP Protection, guarding of Key Points and Vulnerable Points, escort duties, imposition of curfew, rescue operations and raids to contain and deny freedom of action for criminals.
They are also expected to practice continuous troops’ administration in the field as well as regular training and rehearsals and coordination for impending operations.
In his address, Governor Ben Ayade welcomed the exercise.
The governor who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Security Matters, Dr Alfred Mboto, permanent secretary State security matters assured that his government will accord necessary support to ensure the success of the exercise.
“We are eager to sustain the peace prevailing, which reason we give our total supports to this and similar exercises, believing that it will complement our own internal security arrangements.”
“I urge the participants to desist from high-handedness and overzealousness during the exercise, while enhancing the civilian-military relationship”, the governor said.
