Buhari under attack as military, militants clash

– Udengs Eradiri, president of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, calls for the suspension of Operation Crocodile Smile in the spirit of an on-going dialogue between the militants and government

 

– He says there is tension in Niger Delta as people scampering for safety and fleeing into the forest on sighting the troops

– Eradiri says the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’, shows the insincerity on the part of the government

There is an on-going tension in Niger Delta communities over the Nigerian Army preparation to launch a major military onslaught on militants codenamed ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’, The Punch reports.

It was gathered that special military drills to commence the operation was said to be going smoothly as about five militants have been killed and 23 others arrested, after a precursor operation recorded success.

According to the report, community residents are living in fear as they observed many military gunboats, battle-ready soldiers and other maritime military hardwares moving into the creeks.

There is an on-going tension in Niger Delta communities over the Nigerian Army preparation to launch a major military onslaught on militants codenamed ‘Operation Crocodile Smile

Confirming the report, Udengs Eradiri, president of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, called for the suspension of the operation in the spirit of an on-going dialogue between the militants and government aimed at resolving the crisis in the region.

Eradiri, claims that the he has received complaints of people scampering for safety and fleeing into the forest on sighting the troops.

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President Muhammadu Buhari

According to him, the ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’, shows the insincerity on the part of the government, as they are demanding dialogue and at the same time conducting an exercise to launch a major military offensive in the region.

He said that any form of military action in the region could endanger the efforts of the Niger Delta leaders spearheaded by Chief Edwin Clark to resolve the crisis.

Eradiri said: “The Edwin Clark Committee has brought all Niger Delta leaders together. The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta and  the Niger Delta Avengers support them. The other day, the Minister for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, met with them again.

“The unfortunate fact is whether government is sincere in this whole business. How can the military within the period announce that they are carrying out an exercise in the Niger Delta?

“They should have suspended whatever exercise they wanted to carry out. There is a heavy presence of military, mobilising into the Niger Delta through Sapele. That exercise should have been suspended at this period.”

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He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to demonstrate sincerity of purpose in the resolution of the problems.

According to him, “President Buhari has not shown sincerity and must withdraw the military from the Niger Delta if he wants genuine discussions.”

Eradiri added: “We are skeptical seeing many soldiers, mobilising and jumping here and there.

“We don’t have a Sambisa forest where militants are stationed and waiting for the government like in the North. There is nothing like that. This battle is more of an intelligence-civil strategy instead of an invasion that is old-fashioned. It will clearly jeopardise the dialogue.”

NAIJ.com recalls that the Nigerian army recently revealed that the new operation is aimed at training Special Forces, and other units of the Nigerian military in Amphibious and Internal Security Operations in riverine environment.

The operation is also aimed at checking criminal activities like abducting, militancy and piracy and other forms of criminal activities in support of the civil authority.

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