End of Year Exercises: Nigerian Army Assures Citizens of Safety in Yuletide

The Nigerian Army has assured Nigerians that troops will dominate all identified hot spots across the country during the yuletide.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on ongoing army exercises across the country.

Exercise Still Waters III being carried out in the South-South and South West, Enduring Peace and Golden Dawn in the North-Central and South-East geopolitical zones were flagged off by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja on October 9, 2023. These exercises are held in the last quarter of each year to checkmate all forms of crimes during the yuletide.

 

According to General Nwachukwu, exercise STILL WATERS, ENDURING PEACE and GOLDEN DAWN III have so far recorded successes accross the states as he called on citizens to support the military and other security agencies to attain a peaceful and secured nation.

He disclosed that the 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, recording significant successes.

Accordingly, the troops of Guards Brigade, in the conduct of Exercise Enduring Peace with other security agencies, apprehended drug peddlers and arms dealers in different parts of the North Central especially in FCT and Plateau.

The troops of 3 Division raided a suspected weapon fabrication factory at Vom, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, arrested two suspects and recovered six fabricated AK 47 rifles, one fabricated pistols and 11 rifles.

Fielding questions from the journalist on the operation, the Director Army Public Relations said the COAS has directed massive deployment on major roads in Benue and Taraba to checkmate the surge in activities of criminals dueing this season.

Speaking further, he said the troops of the 9 Brigade in conduct of Exercise Still Waters III in the South West, in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service, on Nov. 2 conducted a raid operation on a suspected criminal hideout at Ifako Ijaye where 50 suspects including foreigners belonging to international job racketeering syndicates were arrested.

The troops also arrested two other suspects at a hotel in Ogba, Ikeja, in connection with the murder of one Mallam Idris Ardo, the Ardo of Panya Village in Plateau where preliminary investigation reveals that one of the arrested suspects masterminded the killing of Ardo and fled the community since the incident.

On Exercise Golden Dawn III in the the Public Relations Officer said troops of 82 Division, in conjunction with other security agencies, have been successfully undertaking fighting patrol on suspected IPOB/ESN enclaves within the region.

On the whole, the Nigerian Army assured the people of the region of its commitment to dominate all hot spots for all law-abiding citizens to enjoy Christmas in peace. The Nigerian Army urges citizens to take ownership of the ongoing exercises and volunteer useful actionable information to security agencies. 

The COAS therefore commends the troops for the modest successes recorded so far and urge them to sustain the tempo in order to decisively curtail the activities of criminals across the country.