The Nigerian Army has launched a military exercise, codenamed ‘Exercise Still Water,’ in Ikang in Bakassi local government of Cross River state to stem the tide of militancy, kidnappings, cultism and such heightened crimes thereby bringing calmn to the troubled Bakassi creeks and the environs.
Commander of the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Peter Malla, who spokeduring the launching of the exercise at Ikang, Monday, said a ‘Super Camp’ has been established from which the Exercise would be administered.
He disclosed that the exercise would last for three months from 4 October to December 2021 and that it was designed to give aid to civil authority, where troops would conduct operations in both land and riverine using the Super Camp Concept.
According to him, the exercise would dovetail into real time operations to defeat security threats within its area of operations.
“The real time operations would be used as measure to defeat security threats in the state ranging from kidnapping, armed banditry, arms smuggling, proliferation, militancy and cultism to mention a few.
“It would also serve as an avenue to assess commanders at all levels in their understanding and application of the tactics, techniques and procedures of various scenarios of Internal Security operations,” he stated.
The Brigadier General explained further that the army was out to consolidate on the gains of Exercise Crocodile Smile V, conducted last year, and that the tempo would be maintained to ensure no respite for criminals, and at the same time ensuring law abiding citizens enjoy the freedom to go about their legitimate activities.
He said: “Nigerian Army personnel including those from other security agencies will jointly participate in the exercise which implies a comprehensive capacity building. The participation of other security agencies will also boost realism and foster inter agency cooperation and inter-operability.
“During the conduct of the exercise, participants are expected to conduct roadblocks, mobile patrols, Riverine patrols, cordon and search, crowd dispersal, VIP Protection, guarding of Key Points and Vulnerable Points, escort duties, imposition of curfew, rescue operations and raids to contain and deny freedom of action for criminals.
“They are also expected to practice continuous troops administration in the field as well as regular training and rehearsals and coordination for impending operations. The exercise will also entail logistics planning and support from the established Super Camp here in Ikang.”
Malla called on the civilian population not to panic but accord them supports and cooperation, assuring that troops would consider array of factors including religious, sociopolitical, cultural and humanitarian when carrying out the operations.
Also speaking, the representative of Governor Ben Ayade, Dr Alfred Mboto assured that the State government would accord the army maximum support to ensure the exercise succeeds.
“We are eager to sustain the peace prevailing, which reason we give our total supports to this and similar exercises, believing that it will complement our own internal security arrangements,” Mboto, who is the Permanent Secretary, State Security Matters, stated.
