The REAL reason we are conduction operation Crocodile Smile – Army

– Soldiers were deployed to the Niger Delta region in an operation tagged Crocodile Smile

– However their presence has been considered a planned attack on the militants

– The army claimed the operation is for training purpose only

The Nigerian army has explained that its ongoing operation Crocodile Smile is not targeted at attacking militants.

There has been speculation that due to the activities of Niger Delta militants in the region, the army deployed soldiers to engage the militants.

READ ALSO: Operation Crocodile Smile: What are soldiers doing with pregnant women? (photos)

The Punch however reports that Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar who is the acting director of information at the defense headquarters explained that the training should be considered a military offensive against militants.

Rabe Abubakar

He revealed that the operation was designed to give amphibious training to elements of the army in the area.

He however vowed that if troops on training are attacked by militants, they would be forced to defend themselves.

He said: “We should not  misconstrue our exercise in the Niger Delta. We are not doing the exercise against the militants. 

“We are training our personnel on water. You know we have amphibious elements in the area. We are just doing our exercise, when they were blowing pipes, was there any attack? 

READ ALSO: Do not bomb Niger Delta – Umar warns Buhari

“However, if there is any threat against the troops and equipment, we must act in self defence. The exercise is going on well, we are not targeting anybody. No military is attacking them because of the negotiation. We should give peace a chance.”

However, the military operation in the Niger Delta region has triggered reaction from a militant group, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Movement (NDGJM), blew-up the Ogor-Oteri major delivery line, operated by the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company and Shorelines Petroleum in the state.

The group in a statement by its leader, “Gen” Aldo Agbalaja, said the delivery line was blown up at about 3am on Tuesday, August 30, by its Uproot Team B, Vanguard reports.

According to the militant group, it was launching “Operation Crocodile Tears” since the military had launched “Operation Crocodile Smile” to supposedly worsen the Niger Delta crisis.

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