‘Golden Dawn’, ‘Enduring Peace’ — Army Launches New Exercises In The South

*To Tackle Kidnapping, Banditry

The Nigerian Army will on Monday commence three exercises nationwide.

The exercises are code named Golden Dawn, Enduring Peace and Still Water.

According to a statement on Sunday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General, Onyema Nwachukwu, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, would flag off all the exercises in Enugu State.

He added that the operations were designed to effectively check all forms of criminality and allow for free movement of persons during the Yuletide.

Onyema urged residents not to panic sighting movement of troops and equipment.

The statement was titled, “COAS flags-off Exercises Golden Dawn, Enduring Peace and Still Water nationwide”.

It read, “The COAS, will on Monday, October 4, 2021, perform the flag-off of Exercises Golden Dawn, Enduring Peace and Still Water nationwide. The COAS will symbolically flag-off all exercises at the venue of Exercise Golden Dawn which will take place at Ovie-Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

“For all intents and purposes, it should be noted that these field training exercises are routines conducted yearly by the Nigerian Army, designed to effectively check all forms of criminality and allow for free movement of persons during the Yuletide. Additionally, the FTEs will equally provide a platform to sharpen the skills of participating troops on the conduct of Internal Security Operations.

“The exercises will run concurrently in 2, 6, 81 and 82 Divisions Areas of Responsibilities (in the South West, South-South and South-East regions respectively. They will also be conducted in Headquarters Command Army Records, 401 Special Forces Brigade and Guards Brigade Areas of Responsibilities in the North Central States of Kogi, Benue and the Federal Capital territory respectively.

“Expectedly, troops will be taken through operational rigours to effectively respond to security challenges, ranging from kidnapping, banditry, thuggery, brigandage, armed robbery, cultism, communal crisis, violent secessionist agitations, farmers-herders clashes and insurgency, among other sundry crimes.

“This will be complemented by robust civil-military relations activities in identified communities in the envisaged AORs. This intervention calls for critical stakeholders to support the NA and other security agencies to stem the tide of crimes and criminality across the areas, particularly as the Yuletide approaches.

“Consequently, members of the general public are please enjoined not to panic at sighting the movement of troops and equipment. Nigerians are encouraged to take ownership of the exercise for a seamless celebration during the yuletide.”