Army to launch ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in south-east

The Nigerian army says it is launching ‘Operation Crocodile Smile VI’ in the south-east and Cross River state.

The army 82 division in Enugu, on Tuesday, said it has concluded plans for an inter-agency training workshop on the exercise.

Aliyu Yusuf, a spokesperson of the division, in a statement, noted that the workshop will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

“In line with Nigerian Army Training Directive 2020, 82 Division will be hosting a 2-day inter-agency training workshop to launch the Exercise Crocodile Smile VI in the South-East and Cross River,” NAN quoted him to have said.

“The workshop is designed to further boost the existing cooperation among the various security agencies operating within 82 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR).”

He added that the theme of the workshop would be ‘Inter-agency Collaboration: Imperative for Joint Internal Security Operation’.

The military exercise is one of the similar operations often launched by the security agency across the country.

In 2018, when it first launched ‘Operation Python Dance’ in the south-east, there were reported cases of human rights abuses against the residents.

The exercise had also targeted the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose leader — Nnamdi Kanu — was forced to leave the country before it was declared a terrorist organisation.