By Musa Umar Bologi
Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army will next week launch a new operation, code named Operation Crocodile Smile in the South-south, to curtail the prevalent criminal activities in the region.
Chief of Army (COAS) Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, disclosed this yesterday during Combat Support Arms Training (COSAT) in Maiduguri.
According to him, the operation is also aimed at training troops in amphibious and riverine operations.
“The operation will check activities of criminal, like kidnappings, piracy, and vandalism in the region,” he said.
The army chief said the army had encounter several challenges in fighting terrorism in the country, and has surmounted them, adding that the army would continue to be proactive in facing the challenges posed by the 21 century asymmetric warfare.
He said the theme of the training, “Countering Asymmetry Warfare in the 21st Century: The Role of Nigerian Army,” was in line with his vision for a professionally responsive army.
He said the choice of the venue of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri, was to afford various corps of the Nigerian Army to feel the pause of the theatre of war.
The army chief said the army would continue to improve on training of its personnel and equipment in tune with the present realities.
He directed unit commanders to implement important decisions from the three days training.