The Nigerian Army has stated that the Exercise Crocodile Smile VI has nothing to do with EndSARS protest whatsoever. In a statement signed by the Acting Director, Army public relations, Sagir Musa, the Military noted that its attention has been drawn to some social media reports linking the recently announced exercise to the ongoing protests in the country.
According to the Military, exercise Crocodile Smile is a yearly exercise in the Nigerian Army Calendar or forecast of events which traditionally holds from October to December of each year. The military noted that it is a misconception to insinuate that the exercise is meant to stifle the ongoing EndSARS protests.
The Military stressed that Crocodile Smile VI has nothing to do with the ongoing protests adding that it has never been involved in the protest in any form whatsoever. Sagir said the army has acted professionally since the civil protest started over two weeks ago.
However, the army enjoined all law-abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered. It was earlier reported that this year’s exercise of operation Crocodile Smile VI including the Cyber Warfare component of the exercise is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020.
You will recall that a Nigerian Cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman had earlier issued a stern warning on the need for the federal government to bury the plan to involve the military in quelling the #EndSARS protests across the country noting that such move will further open up new demands which might be disastrous or regrettable.
The cleric, who is also the President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide in a tweet on Saturday added that the reactions to years of oppression cant stop in a week given the number of lives that have been lost to police brutality ( read more here).
