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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