The 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, has commenced a three-month security operation in Cross River to check crimes.

The operation codenamed ‘Operation Still-Water was flagged off in Bakassi local government area in a newly-established ‘Super Camp’.

Speaking during the flag-off exercise, Commander, 13 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Peter Malla, said it was a field training exercise designed to enable security operatives to conduct operations in both land and water using the ‘Super Camp Concept’.

Mr Malla disclosed that the exercise would dovetail into real-time operations to defeat security threats within its area of operations.

“The real-time operations would be used as a measure to defeat security threats in the state, ranging from kidnapping, banditry, smuggling, militancy, and cultism. It would also serve as an avenue to assess commanders at all levels in their understanding and application of the tactics and procedures of various scenarios of Internal Security operations,” he stated. “We will consolidate on the gains of ‘Operation Crocodile Smile V’, conducted in 2020, to ensure that criminals have no respite while citizens enjoy the freedom to go about their legitimate activities.”

Mr Malla added that for the troops to be proficient in the exercise, they would integrate relevant security agencies in the state to foster inter-agency cooperation and interoperability.

He, however, called on the civilian population not to panic but cooperate with the soldiers, assuring that troops would consider religious, sociopolitical, cultural, and humanitarian factors while carrying out the operations.

In his remark, Governor Ben Ayade expressed happiness over the conduct of the exercise in the state.

“I appeal to the participants to desist from highhandedness and overzealousness during the exercise while enhancing the civilian-military relationship,” said Mr Ayade.

(NAN)