Army will start nationwide drills to ensure a safe Christmas

The Nigerian Army is set to initiate a comprehensive military exercise across the nation with the objective of safeguarding the well-being of Nigerian citizens over the yuletide period.

During a press conference held at the Army Headquarters, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, discussed the upcoming training exercises planned by the Nigerian Army. These exercises, which are in accordance with the Nigerian Army Training Directive for the year 2023, will involve the participation of troops from the Nigerian Army, as well as collaboration with Sister Services and other security agencies. The training exercises are scheduled to take place nationwide from October to December 2023.

As per his statement, the exercise aimed at enhancing both individual and collective professional competence would seamlessly integrate with real-time operations to address diverse security problems specific to the geopolitical zones.

According to Nwachukwu, the exercises in question are referred to as ‘GOLDEN DAWN III’ in the South East region, ‘ENDURING PEACE III’ in the North Central region, and ‘STILL WATERS III’ in the South South and South West regions.

The primary objective of Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III, conducted in the South East region, is to address security issues such armed robbery, kidnapping, cult activities, communal conflicts, and various other criminal activities that tend to escalate during the festive season when a significant number of individuals return to their hometowns to celebrate.

The exercise will prioritize the development of our troops’ abilities in information collection and the implementation of proactive measures to effectively respond to criminal activities. The objective of this exercise is to enhance security measures in the South East region and protect the safety of the population over the duration leading up to the yuletide season.

The primary objective of Exercise ENDURING PEACE III, which is being conducted in the North Central region, is to effectively tackle a range of issues including farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts, and terrorism, among other related concerns.

The exercise aims to provide our forces with the essential abilities required to counteract banditry, encompassing hostage rescue operations, intelligence-based raids, and efficient collaboration with other affiliated military branches and security organizations.

The upcoming exercise, known as STILL WATERS III, will be conducted in the South-South and South-West regions with the objective of addressing the pressing issues of cultism, robbery, and kidnapping. The proposed initiative would aim to effectively tackle the issues surrounding pipeline vandalism and various forms of economic sabotage.

The exercise will additionally prioritize the protection of important infrastructures. The training of our military personnel would encompass advanced monitoring techniques, rapid response tactics, and the utilization of technology in order to efficiently combat incidents of pipeline vandalism. The purpose of undertaking this effort is to mitigate acts of economic sabotage, safeguard national assets, and establish a conducive climate for sustainable economic development.

According to Nwachukwu, it has been observed that the Nigerian Army places significant value on the recognition of collaboration and synergy across different security services as a means to effectively address the security challenges that the country is currently facing.

Consequently, the Nigerian Army has established collaborative partnerships with various sister services and governmental agencies, such as the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Customs Service, among others. This concerted effort aims to ensure a synchronized and efficient approach in addressing these imminent challenges. The inclusion of joint training activities and the exchange of intelligence will constitute fundamental elements of our strategy.

In conclusion, it is important to emphasize once again that the Nigerian Army is firmly determined and dedicated to overcoming the prevailing security issues in regions experiencing unrest within the country. The speaker expressed that the forthcoming training exercises, namely STILL WATERS III, GOLDEN DAWN III, and ENDURING PEACE III, are expected to contribute to the enhancement of the troops’ capabilities, foster better collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, and ultimately guarantee the safety and security of the general population.