The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has kicked off “Exercises Still Waters, Golden Dawn and Enduring Peace” to tackle security challenges in the country especially during the Yuletide season. The director of Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, revealed that the exercises targeted at mitigating the current security challenges in the South-South, South East, South West and North Central are to run concurrently across Nigeria.
While flagging off the exercises at the 6 Division Step-up Headquarters in Ahoada, Rivers State, Yahaya said they were conceptualised to meet security challenges peculiar to their areas of responsibility in the respective regions.
The CAOS said the exercises involved team synergy with other services and security agencies, including the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others.
He added that the operations among the services and agencies would provide the opportunity for them to bring their special competencies to bear on the operations.
Yahaya also expressed optimism that by the end of the exercises, they would engender a more peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the Yuletide and conduct of peaceful elections.
Similarly, several reports of cult groups attempting to take over many communities in Lagos including Oworonshoki, Surulere, Apapa, Mushin, Ikorodu, Ojo, necessitated the birth of such exercise in Lagos and Ogun state.
During the flag of in Lagos, the GOC 81 Division, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, while inspecting the operation base charged the troops to respect human right, as that will be in line with military constitutional rule of conducting internal security operations in aid to civil authority.
He commended the troops and assured them of adequate logistic support.
