Army: Crocodile Smile Not Targeting SARS Protesters
The Nigerian military has made it clear that Operation Crocodile Smile is not targeting the #EndSARS protesters.
This was announced on Sunday by the acting director of public relations of the army, Sagir Musa.
The statement read, in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to certain things on social media that unfairly condemn the Army and its leadership for announcing the CROCODILE SMILE VI exercise, especially the Cyberwar Exercise Component. This year’s SMILE CROCODILE exercise is scheduled to begin between October 20 and December 31, 2020 and is not associated with any legitimate protests.
“For your reference, the CROCODILE SMILE exercise is an annual exercise in NA calendar / forecasting that is traditionally held from October to December each year.
“So to hint now that this exercise is aimed at quelling the ongoing ENDSARS protest is, to put it mildly, extremely misinformed. The CROCODILE SMILE VI exercise has nothing to do with ongoing protest, and AN has never participated in any form of ongoing protest. So far, the military has been acting professionally since the start of the civil protest more than two weeks ago.
“The military is demanding that all law-abiding Nigerians carry out their legitimate activities without hindrance, as the exercise has nothing to do with the ENDSARS protest, but the annual event is designed to train NA officers and soldiers. in their efforts to ensure the safety of their citizens. “
PRESS RELEASE
NIGERIAN ARMY BEGINS AN ALL NATION CROCODILE SMILE EXERCISE
1. The Nigerian Army will begin its annual exercise CROCODILE SMILE, traditionally held in the last quarter of the year. This year’s exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI will begin from October 20 to December 31, 2020.
2. The exercise is deliberately intended to be comprehensive and includes a cyber war exercise designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda on social media and cyberspace. This is the first cyber warfare exercise in the history of the African military. Consequently, the exercise will also include a positive identification component aimed at identifying terrorists from Boko Haram fleeing from the northeast and other parts of the country following operations carried out in various operating rooms, especially in the northeast, north of the center and north. Western parts of Nigeria.
3. The Nigerian military reaffirms its commitment to maintaining peace and security in Nigeria to all well-meaning Nigerians and calls on members of the public for their support and understanding throughout the exercise.
SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Interim Director of Public Affairs of the Army
17 October 2020
Source: – Punchng
