In a bid to ensure robust security measures during the upcoming Yuletide season, the Nigerian Army has unequivocally assured the nation that its troops will exert control over all recognized hot spots across the country. Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, conveyed this commitment on Wednesday in Abuja while updating the media on ongoing army exercises nationwide.
Nwachukwu highlighted the success of three concurrent exercises, codenamed Still Waters, Enduring Peace, and Golden Dawn, spanning 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These operations, initiated under the leadership of Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, have been strategically deployed to different regions, focusing on specific geopolitical zones.
Exercise Still Waters III has been actively addressing security concerns in the South-South and South West, while Enduring Peace and Golden Dawn have been operationalized in the North-Central and South-East geopolitical zones, respectively. The exercises, designed to combat various forms of criminal activities, were officially flagged off on October 9th by Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja in Lagos.
Speaking on the progress of these initiatives, Nwachukwu emphasized that the troops have adopted an offensive posture, engaging in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations. These operations include targeted raids on criminal hideouts and extensive patrols, among other proactive measures.
Encouraging the collaboration between citizens and the military, Nwachukwu appealed for support from the public and other security agencies to collectively achieve peace and security objectives in the country. He emphasized that the exercises, conducted annually in the last quarter of each year, are instrumental in curbing various forms of crimes that tend to escalate during the Yuletide season.
“As it stands today, troops have maintained an offensive posture, conducting several kinetic and non-kinetic operations in the forms of raids on criminal hideouts and patrols amongst others. So far, all the exercises have recorded significant successes,” Nwachukwu affirmed, instilling confidence in the nation regarding the military’s commitment to safeguarding citizens during the festive period.
