Information
reaching us from the leadership of the Nigerian Army reveals the
dreaded Operation Python Dance exercise and others will be relaunch in
troubled parts of Nigeria.
Tukur Buratai,
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has
disclosed that the Nigerian Army would soon deployed its personnel to
various parts of the country to contain ongoing threat to security in
the country.
He said the troops would be deployed under Special Forces, such as
Operation Python Dance III in the Southeast, Operation Crocodile Smile
III in the Niger Delta and Southwest and Harbin Kunama III in the North
to contend cattle rustling in that part of the country.
Buratai spoke in Abuja, yesterday, after leading officers and men
on an annual 15-kilometre route match that culminated at the Mogadishu
Cantonment in the city, tasked officers and men to be on alert, as they
could be deployed any moment there was any need for that.
He reiterated that some officers and men could be deployed at short
notice to assist what he called “civil authorities” to contend
insecurity in any part of the country and charged them to be prepared
for the task.
The army chief could not, however, give a clear picture on whether
the troops would carry out similar exercise in Benue, Taraba and
Nasarawa states, following incessant herdsmen/farmers clashes in those
states, which have resulted in several killings.
He said: “Well, we are not thinking of any particular
situation; we are going to train on general areas, which could include
that aspect as well.
“But our focus will be to ensure that security is provided across the country.
“So, definitely, expect Harbin Kunama III, Crocodile Smile III
and Egwu Eke Dance III and probably another exercise coming, which will
be made known at the appropriately time.”
Operation Python Dance I & II, Operation Harbin Kunama I and II
were among others conducted in 2016 and last year, respectively, to
deal with the menace of cattle rustling and herdsmen/farmers clashes in
parts of Northwest and North-Central, while Crocodile Smile and Egwu Eke
Dance were conducted in the Niger Delta and the Southeast,
respectively, last year to tackle pipeline vandalism, oil theft and
piracy, violent agitation and kidnapping.
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