Army flags off Exercise Still Water to check kidnapping, militancy

The 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, has flagged off Exercise Still Water II at Ikang Community in Bakassi Local Council of Cross River to curb kidnapping, militancy, armed robbery, cultism and other criminal activities.

The Commander of the Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Everest Okoro, who spoke, yesterday, at the flag-off of the exercise, said that troops would plan and conduct operations in both land and riverine environments that are volatile, unpredictable, chaotic and ambiguous in real time.

He said real-time operations would be used to counter security threats in the state, ranging from kidnapping, armed banditry, arms smuggling/proliferation, militancy and cultism, among others.

Okoro said: “Exercise Still Water will also serve as an avenue to challenge commanders in their understanding and application of the tactics, techniques and procedures of various scenarios of an internal security environment.

“It will heighten the tempo of operations and ensure no respite for criminals throughout the area of responsibility, as well as ensuring law-abiding citizens enjoy the freedom to go about their legitimate activities.

“This period was carefully selected to checkmate the activities of criminals during the Yuletide period and the political activities that have commenced towards the 2023 general elections.”

The Commander, who solicited the support of residents of the state towards the success of the exercise, said that the exercise would also afford the army the opportunity to further cement the existing cordial civil-military cooperation, thereby facilitating civilian support to the military.

He said that all personnel of all units of the Brigade across the state, including those from other security agencies, would jointly participate in the exercise, which implies comprehensive capacity building.

According to him, during the exercise, troops are expected to conduct roadblocks, mobile patrols, riverine patrols, cordon and search, crowd dispersal, and guarding of key points and vulnerable points.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Ben Ayade, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Dr. Alfred Mboto, commended the synergy of security agencies in the state and lauded them for their contribution towards peacebuilding and security provision.

He, therefore, pledged his administration’s commitment towards the success of the exercise.