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The Nigerian Army yesterday in Lagos has announced the flag off Exercise Egwu Eke III,(Python Dance III) to tackle security challenges in Lagos and Ogun states, even as it assured Nigerians of their safety, before, during and after the forth coming general elections.
Speaking at the Flag off ceremony held at the Ikeja cantonment, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai, explained that objectives of the exercise included among other things: to reinvigorate all existing operations in the country with additional manpower, equipment and resources, to address the lingering security problems in the country.
According to the Army boss, the event to commence the operation was a significant one with the assurances of the Nigerian Army to work in collaboration with civilian authorities.
Buratai reassures that at the end of the special operation, all bandits, rustlers and other criminals hiding within the state would have been eradicated. He also explained the operation will help in tackling the menace of fake news.
“I am assuring Nigerians that at the end of the Exercise which is also conducted simultaneously by other divisions in the Army, the Python must have swallowed all the bandits, rustlers, terrorists, kidnappers, robbers and militants in the country. The Python will also swallow thugs and other miscreants that may raise their heads to disturb peace in the country.”
“Finally, it is also meant to address the issue of fake news and unpatriotic elements that are impeding military operations and demoralizing forces at the expense of national security. The exercise is a realistic training package in Internal Security operations, clearance operations, emergency management, rescue operations, road blocks, cordon and search as well as anti – kidnapping and anti – cultism”. Buratai explained.
He recalled that prior to exercise Python Dance III, there had been an intensified operations such as Operation AWATSE , to crack down activities of illegal oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism.
