The Nigerian Army is set to commence three training exercises across the country to forestall rising cases of criminality during the forthcoming Yuletide season, particularly in South-East, South-South, South-West, and North-Central parts of the country
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, while briefing journalists said the exercises codenamed ‘GOLDEN DAWN III’ in the South-East, ‘ENDURING PEACE III’ in the North-Central, and ‘STILL WATERS III’ in the South-South and South-West, will be formally launched by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, at a later date.
He said the exercises are designed to improve individual and collective professional competence and would dovetail into real-time operations to tackle various peculiar security challenges in the affected geo-political zones.
He explained that Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III, taking place in the South-East, is aimed at tackling security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes and sundry crimes which become more pronounced in the build-up to the Yuletide, when many citizens return home to celebrate. He added that the exercise will focus on enhancing the capabilities of troops in intelligence gathering and effective and proactive response to criminalities.
Furthermore, the Exercise ENDURING PEACE III, taking place in the North-Central, is aimed at addressing farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts and terrorism, among others.
He added that the exercise will equip troops with the necessary skills to combat banditry, including hostage rescue operations, intelligence-driven raids, and effective coordination with other sister services and security agencies. While Exercise STILL WATERS III, taking place in the South-South and South-West, will target the menace of cultism, robbery and kidnapping.
It will also strive to address the challenges of pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage.The exercise will also focus on securing critical infrastructures.
