Nigerian Army has debunked claim in the social media that this year’s military exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile VI is targeted at the ‘EndSARS’ protesters.
The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday, October 18 2020. He assured that the yearly military exercise and its cyber warfare component in particular has nothing whatsoever to do with the ‘EndSARS’ protests across the nation.
This year’s exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile VI is is scheduled to begin on October 20 and last till December 31, 2020. The exercise is however a yearly event in the
calendar of Nigerian Army which holds traditionally from October to December of every year. Nigerian Army has therefore emphasized that the operation has no relationship whatsoever with any lawful protest under any guise.
The statement also averred that it was the height of misinformation
for anyone to have insinuated that the year’s exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile was meant to stifle the ongoing ‘EndSARS’ protest.
“Exercise Crocodile Smile VI has nothing to do with the ongoing protest and Nigerian Army has never been involved in the ongoing protest in any form whatsoever. So far, the army has acted professionally since the civil protest started over two weeks ago”.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Army has enjoined all Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered as this year’s exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile has nothing to do with the ‘EndSARS’ protests. The statement also restated that the exercise was a yearly event that is designed to train officers and soldiers of Nigerian Army in its efforts to continually ensure the safety and security of Nigeria and her citizens.