Crime
399 suspected criminals arrested by Army as “Operation Crocodile Smile 2” ends
By OKOSUN DENNIS
After three weeks of intensive patrol and raid of hotspots and criminal joints, Nigerian Army on Saturday declared that a total of 399 suspected criminals were arrested in Lagos and Ogun States respectively during “Operation Crocodile Smile 2.
Given the appraisal of the operation during the closing ceremony at the 192 Battalion, Ajilete, Ogun State, the Sector 7 Commander, Brig Gen. Bassey Adonkie, said that over 1,000 army personnel and other paramilitary organisations participated in the exercise.
Adonkie, who is also the Commander, 35 Artillery Brigade, explained that the exercise crocodile Smile 2 was an exercise that leveraged on intelligence to flush out pipeline vandals, kidnappers and miscreants.
It was learnt that among those arrested suspects included armed robbers, kidnappers and there were also recovery of ammunition.
Adonkie further added, “So far, a total of 399 suspects were arrested for different offences across the South West region and handed over to various security agencies concerned.
“In addition, 20 assorted arms were recovered, while illicit drugs were also recovered and handed over National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), he disclosed.
The Commander added that criminal activities had reduced, prior to the beginning of the Crocodile Smile 2, that it was on the increase. He reiterated that they denied the criminals freedom of action and movement to operate.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Maj Gen. David Ahmadu said that the exercise leveraged on the gains of the Crocodile Smile 1 that took place in the South South in 2016.
Gen Ahmadu, who had earlier flagged off a medical outreach at the Ajilete Yewa Town Hall, pointed out that the medical rhapsody was part of strengthening Civil-Military relationship.
National Daily gathered that the army also renovated the town, donated a generator and chairs, which Gen Ahmadu emphasised, would help the community generate funds to maintain the facility.
Ahmadu said, “The idea of the operation was conceived by the COAS in 2015 to flush out militants, vandals and other sundry criminal gangs.
“Experience drawn from exercise conducted in 2016 revealed that criminals and miscreants do fled from areas of ongoing operations to seek safe haven and cause security menace in areas hitherto regarded as peaceful.
“It was in line with this development, that I deemed it necessary to extend the areas of coverage for this year’s exercise Crocodile Smile 2 to cover the South West and South South regions of the country,” he said.
He pointed out that the closing ceremony should not be regarded as the end of the exercise, adding that the exercise should serve as an impetus to sustain the current tempo in the conduct of ongoing operation.
“The army places premium on training and this exercise is one of the training activities embarked on to sharpen the skills of personnel in the conduct of operation,” he pointed out.
National Daily reports that Crocodile Smile 2 was a joint operation conducted with other sister agencies which has remarkably improved comradeship, interagency Cooperation and synergy.
In his closing remarks, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Peter Dauke, said that the exercise Crocodile Smile 2 commenced on October 7 which was flagged off by the Chief of Army Staff.
Dauke noted that the exercise was designed to develop and enhance professionalism among units, foster relationship and synergy among participating services, security agencies.
“It was also designed to improve the overall planning and conduct of internal security operations in combating prevalent security challenges.
“It is gladdening to note that the exercise was able to mitigate prevalent security challenges such as reduction in pipeline vandalism, militancy, ritual killings, smuggling, kidnapping and drug related offences amongst others,” he said.
The GOC said troops were exposed to the rudiments of administration in the field, operational staff work and battle map marking during the conduct of the operation.
“It is pertinent to note that all these activities were done in collaboration with other sister services with each playing its statutory roles in internal security duties,” he said.
On the provision of medical care to the residents of Ajilete community, the Secretary General, Ajilete Council of Chiefs in the community, Chief Falade Ayinde, appreciated the humanitarian services rendered by the army.
“The medical outreach programme is an interesting one and I want to say it s one of the best our community have had from the government.
It would be recalled that Operation Crocodile 2 was flagged off at TAKWA Bay Island by Gen Buratai on the 13th October 2017 with the components of Amphibious and land patrol to rout criminal elements.