Army commences end of year exercises

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, on Tuesday, flagged off Exercises Still Waters, Golden Dawn, and Enduring Peace aimed at tackling security challenges across the country.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

While flagging off the exercises at the 6 Division Step-up Headquarters in Rivers, the COAS said the exercises were specifically conceptualised to meet security challenges peculiar to their areas of responsibility in the respective regions.

He said the exercises involved team operations with other services and security agencies, including the Navy, Air force, Police, Department of State Services, Civil Defence Corps, among others.

The COAS added that the synergy amongst the services and agencies would provide the opportunity for them to bring their special competencies to bear in the operations.

He added that each exercise would address issues unique to their areas of responsibility.

According to him, the exercise in Rivers will among other tasks address the issue of oil theft.

Yahaya expressed optimism that the troops would engender more peaceful and harmonious atmosphere for the yuletide and conduct of violent free elections in 2023.

He added that the exercises targeted the mitigation of security challenges in the South-South, South East, South West and North Central.

He warned the troops to remain apolitical and not allow themselves to be derailed.

The Chief of Operations (Army), Maj.-Gen. Tunde Akinjobi, said the exercises would adopt both kinetic and non kinetic approaches to make it friendly to law abiding citizens.

Akinjobi called for the cooperation of members of the public to ensure the success of the exercises.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, pledged that the division would be resolute in the pursuit of its mandate.

Oluyede said this was neccessary to facilitate conditions suitable for socio economic activities to thrive.