Operation Crocodile Smile II intended to increase rhythm of our combat operations – Army
ON October 14, 2017 6:21 PM / IN News / BYUgoh Solomon Chinonso
…dismiss alleged claims of military vaccinations, immunization in schools
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Army Saturday shed light on the second phase of its Operation Crocodile Smile in Bayelsa State saying it was to increase the rhythm and mileage of its operation in the Niger Delta.
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai looks on at the headquaters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Borno State in northcentral Nigeria, on October 4, 2017.
The United Kingdom is providing expert training to the Nigerian military in helping to develop the skills necessary to tackle the terror threat of Boko Haram in North East Nigeria. Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency began in 2009 and has killed at least 20,000 and forced more than 2.6 million from their homes. / AFP
Commander of the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Kevin Aligbe who led personnel of brigade on environmental sanitation exercise in Yenagoa, as parts of the series of activities lined up for the period of the Crocodile Smile II in the state said there was no need for the populace to panic.
According to him, “Operation Crocodile Smile II is intended to increase the rhythm of our combat operations in the creeks and land base activities. At the end of the day the operational skills of all those participating will be sharpened and of course we would have gain more mileage.
“It is going to increase the rhythm of our operations and as well as the mileage we are going to attain in terms of our operational gains. The environmental exercise that we are conducting today is one of the series of activities line up during the Operation Crocodile II.”
He said apart from the routine activities in the creeks, rivulets and all land patrols, confidence building and all of that, the military decided to undertake some communities’ relation activities to bridge the gaps between the army and the immediate communities where they reside.
Aligbe said he want Nigerians to take ownership of the army and see the army as the pride of the nation, adding,
“that is exactly what we have come here to demonstrate within the context of Operation Crocodile Smile II. We must give back to the environment as much as we demand from the environment.”
The Brigade Commander who donated some items on behalf of the Nigerian Army to the Obstetrics and Gynaecologic ward of the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC), Yenagoa said the gesture was part of the medical outreach within the context of the their community relationship in their area of operation.
We do not conduct vaccination, immunization
He also uses the opportunity to dispel rumour of vaccinations and immunization being given to pupils in primary and post primary schools in Yenagoa, which led to pandemonium on Friday in the state capital as parents rushed to withdraw their wards from school.
His words, “During our outreaches, we do not do vaccinations, we do not do immunization, we do basic medical checks and then offer medical materials to individuals that need them and it is not by force.
“You will be surprise that in this time and age when you have social media that not even a shadow of the called people dressed in military uniform were caught on camera, especially with everybody having a cell phone that has camera in it.
“Not even one school, not anywhere the same message, the same rumour that was heard in other states, but unfortunately was replicated here in Yenegoa, yesterday and caused a lot of apprehension but as leaders we must stay on the part of truth in making sure that the services that is expected of us is delivered to the people.
“That is the professional responsibility that we have to the community where we reside and so our business.”
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