23 Militants Gunned Down As Operation Crocodile Smile Winds Down – Military

BEVERLY HILLS, September 18, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army has revealed that twenty-three militants were killed during the just-concluded military exercise in the Niger Delta region codenamed 'Operation Crocodile Smile.'

This was disclosed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, who addressed journalists in Enugu, adding that the Army also recorded 4 casualties.

Attahiru revealed that the Army, during the exercise, aimed at stemming growing restiveness in the region, recovered 55 assorted weapons from militants in the Niger Delta and destroyed 38 of their camps with 91 illegal refineries and bunkering sites.

“The Exercise Crocodile smile ended not just as a training exercise but also as a way of demonstrating the capacity and efficacy of the Nigerian Army to secure lives and property in the Niger Delta and Southeast Nigeria,” he declared.

“The Army formation in Enugu will continue to halt the myriad of security threats cum economic sabotage within its area of responsibility.

“We will not tolerate any attempt at brazen attacks on national critical infrastructure, oil and gas resources and overall strangulation of the socio-economy of law abiding citizenry by any group of militants or criminals.”

Story by David Oputah