Troops of the Nigerian Army, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, are expected to commence Operation Crocodile Smile 2 in the Niger Delta.
The division’s Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, said on Monday the exercise would be conducted between October 7 and 28.
Iliyasu said, “In line with the Nigerian Army’s Training Directive for the Year 2017, troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, including its affiliated formations and units, located within its entire Area of Responsibility (AOR), which covers the core Niger Delta States of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, will be participating in this year’s Exercise Crocodile Smile II, within the entire Niger Delta region.
“The exercise is intended to equip troops with skills in administration, operational, logistics and civil-military cooperation aspects in a military operation, such as the provision of free medical care to host communities, Quick Impact Projects (QIP) and the conduct of sanitation exercises to be undertaken by the troops for the benefit of their host communities and distribution of educational materials to schools. These are parts of army’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“It will also avail troops the opportunity to sharpen their combat skills in the conduct of land based and joint riverine operations.
“The exercise will also aim at imparting to the troops the importance of equipment maintenance, reconnaissance, inter-service and inter-agency cooperation, effective application of the Nigerian Army code of conduct, as well as strict adherence to Rules of Engagement (ROE), proper handling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and captured or surrendered hostile elements, in line with international best practices.”
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