Army Launches Operation Still Waters, Charges Troops to be Ruthless with Criminals

*Operation to target militants, bandits, armed robbers, others

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on Monday launched Operation Still Waters, a joint operation aimed at combating kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry and other crimes within Lagos and Ogun States which are its Areas of Responsibility (AOR).

At the launch in Lagos, troops deployed for the exercise were charged to be ruthless with criminals disturbing the peace and security of both states.

However, they were mandated to respect the rights of law abiding citizens and adhere to the rules of engagement guiding the field exercise.

According to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Major General Lawrence Fejokwu, residents of both states should expect increased military presence both during the day and at night till December 23 when the exercise would be concluded.

He said during Operation Still Waters, formerly codenamed Exercise Crocodile Smile, troops were expected to practice what they had learnt in the classrooms to better prepare them on how to tackle criminal elements.

Fejokwu said: “We have rules of engagement therefore, lawful citizens have nothing to fear but if we find criminals in the course of conducting the exercise, we will deal with them accordingly.

“There would be increased military movement by day and night and I urge law abiding citizens to go about their business without any fear.

“All we are trying to do is to work in synergy, carryout rehearsals and be sure of what we want to do so that when we have to conduct raids in the future such as cordon and search operations, all services will be on the same page and we will do it together the way it should be done because we have rehearsed it and because we know what each service ought to do in any given situation.

“If we also have the security agencies on the street conducting exercises it would go a long way at deterring criminal activities in our society.

“We expect hightened security awareness and that citizens in the course of this exercise can report any case to the nearest field location which are evenly distributed in the state. We are using our gun boats to patrol the waterways and deploying our own soldiers on the banks of so many jetties.”

In his remarks, Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Lander Saraso said the participating troops have been briefed to be friendly, civil with law abiding civilians but deal ruthlessly with criminals terrorising the society, within the ambit of the law.

He said the exercise would practice the troops in certain aspects of counter terrorism/counter insurgency operations in the states, adding that its headquarters was sited at the Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, because it was close to some identified flash points such as Oshodi Isale.

“The exercise is designed to curtail the activities of militants, bandits armed robbers, cultists, hoodlums, illegal oil bunkers and the likes within Lagos and environs.

“Recent intelligence report available revealed unprecedented wave of criminalities going on within our environs with criminal elements who have taken over some communities to perpetuate their criminal acts.

“In spite of efforts of security agencies, these criminal elements have continued to engage in criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed banditry, militancy, cultism and other violent criminalities within the city of Lagos.

“In view of these criminal activities and as it is customary in the Nigerian Army, the brigade was tasked to conduct this exercise to curtail these criminal activities in conjunction with other sister services and security agencies as we approach the yuletide season.

“The concept of the exercise involves the physical deployment of troops in the field from where this troops are going to be dispatched from time to time to conduct real time patrols against criminal elements within the environment.

“The exercise is intended to achieve the following objectives: To practice units and sub-units under command on the concept of forward operation bases and brigade headquarters in the field; test the unit and sub-unit commanders in battle procedure and decision making processes regarding deployment of weapons and assets in internal security operations.

“Test commanders and staff at the brigade level including combat support and combat service support elements in the act and conduct of logistical operations and combat support service procedures in internal security operations; test ability of troops on communication skills and communication security in an operational environment.

“Test unit and sub unit commanders aspect of counter terrorism and counter insurgency operation, and test unit and sub unit commanders on inter service core operation and cooperation with other sister agencies in military operations other than war…” he said.

Saraso said the ability of unit and sub unit commanders to handle the press during internal operations would also be tested, adding that they would be exposed to the levels of service support available to them at the tactical level.