Hyacinth Chinweuba
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday commended Operation Crocodile Smile IV by the Nigerian Army, saying the exercise is a right move towards ensuring peace and security in the South West and South South regions during the festive season.
The governor assured the Nigerian Army of his administration’s continued support as it engages in intensive security duties in the state while also urging citizens to be security-conscious.
Mr Sanwo-Olu stated this during the flag-off ceremony of the Nigeria Army’s 81 Division Exercise Crocodile Smile IV for Lagos and Ogun States held at Takwa Bay, Lagos.
The governor who was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai for his thoughtfulness and strategic foresight, which brought about the idea of the exercise.
He said: “From antecedents, the security issues prevalent in the yuletide are not lost on any of us as men of the underworld tend to perpetrate criminal acts during this period,” adding that Exercise Crocodile Smile IV is a welcome development that promises to ensure that these blackheads of the society have no safe haven within the period.”
Sanwo-Olu further affirmed that beaches around Lagos, which are a beehive of activities, will remain safe with such security activities as the one planned and executed by the Nigerian army.
In his remarks, Buratai who was represented by the General Officer, Commanding 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major-General John Irefin disclosed that the Exercise Crocodile Smile IV was part of the Nigerian Army’s continuous commitment to combating security challenges in the country such as illegal oil bunkering activities, militancy, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism; cultism and some other common sundry crime.
He added that the objectives of the operation are to reduce to the barest minimum the prevailing security threat in the riverine environment and sharpen the professional skills of security personnel that are involved in the exercise.
Buratai noted that the exercise would be intelligence-driven and will portray real-time operation at any moment a potent threat is encountered.