Lieutenant-General-Tukur-Yusuf-Buratai
Army Chief Flags
Lieutenant-General-Tukur-Yusuf-Buratai
Army Chief Flags off Operation Crocodile Smile in
Calabar
In consonance with his vision which is – “To have a professionally
responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional
roles”, the Chief of Army Staff(COAS) Nigerian Army (NA),
Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has flaged off a Command
Post and Field Training Exercise code named Exercise CROCODILE
SMILE 111 in 13 Brigade Area of Operational Responsibility –
(Calabar, Cross River State).
The flag off ceremony was conducted at Ikang Forward Operation
Base, Ikang, Bakassi Local Local Area of Cross Rivers State by His
Excellency, the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Professor
Ben Ayade who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion.
In his remarks to flag off the exercise, Senator Ben Ayade
commended the professional disposition, commitment and forsight of
the COAS especially on his choice of Bakassi general area as a
launching pad for this important and timely exercise.
Governor Ayade posited that “the choice of Bakassi is good and
thoughtful as there is massive movement of arms and ammunition as
well as criminal activities such as sea piracy, kidnapping armed
robbery going on in this axis. All these are connected to the
activities of Cameroonian Ambazonian separatists which resulted in
the proliferation of arms and crimes. I hope, this exercise,
will effectively address these fundamental security challenges” he
said.
He urged royal fathers in the state to cooperate with the
Nigerian Army and other security agencies to ensure the success of
the exercise which will last till the 22nd of November 2018..
According to him “I understand there are other aspects of the
exercise that are intended to achieve excellent Civil-Military
Cooperation. I wish to commend the NA for imbuing this exercise
with projects that will profoundly impact on the people. I,
therefore, urge the royal fathers to cooperate with NA as they are
sincere in what they are here for”, he added.
Earlier in a keynote address delivered by the representative of
the COAS, – the General Officer Commanding 82 Division NA, Major
General Emmanuel Kabuk, stated that the exercise is a training
period for the officers and soldiers of 13 Brigade.
According to him – “The exercise is primarily a 13 Brigade
Command Post and Field Training exercises which will provide an
opportunity for officers and soldiers of the Brigade as well as
supporting elements from headquarters 82 Division to once again
demonstrate their proficiency in the conduct of Internal Security
Operations”.
General Kabuk further stated that Exercise CROCODILE SMILE 111
will be land and maritime based.
“The land operations will include mobile patrols, snap
checkpoints, raids, road blocks, cordon and search and other
operations that can enhance the achievement of the exercise
objectives, while the maritime operations will address the security
threats within the creeks of Cross Rivers State” he said.
He explained the objectives of the exercise to include training
opportunities, ensuring peace and security in the state.
According to the COAS – “The objectives of Exercise CROCODILE
SMILE 111 are to ensure peace and security in Cross Rivers State
and the general Area of Responsibility covered by 13 Brigade. It is
also to create a conducive environment for the 2019 General
Elections”. “To this end, the conclusion of this exercise will
kick-start Exercise PYTHON DANCE/EGWU EKE 111 which will be
conducted by all formations and units of the NA across the nation
in preparation for the 2019 General Elections”, he added.
All the Brigade Commanders in 82 Division Area of
Responsibility, Service Commanders and Heads of Security Agencies
in Cross Rivers State as well as Head of Bakassi Local Council
Administration Mr Ekpenyong Esuabana and the Clan Head of Ikang
Clan of Bakassi, his royal highness Etinyin – Effiong Kenneth
Effiong were among the major dignitaries that attended the
event.
SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Deputy Director Public Relations