Army to launch another operational exercise – Buratai

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai

The Nigerian Army will launch one more operational exercise before the end of 2016 in its efforts to tackle some of the security challenges in the country.

The Chief of Army of Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed this in Makurdi on Thursday at the close of the combined 2nd and 3rd quarter Chief of Army Staff Conference.

Buratai, however, did not name the exercise, where it would be launched and the specific security it would address.

When asked whether the exercise would be like “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in the Niger Delta, the chief of said: “Well, it is going to be like that definitely”.

“It is a training programme, it is programmed in our training directory for this year (2016).

“The same like the Exercise Crocodile and Kura Kuna.”

Buratai had earlier said that an army Brigade would be established in Makurdi as part of efforts to tackle security issues and ensure peace in Benue and its environs.

He charged officers and men of the Nigerian army to be ready always to make Nigeria proud, saying that the current challenges in the country could be surmounted.

Buratai expressed satisfaction that while the terrorists in the North East were being decimated, militants in the Niger Delta region and agitators in the South East were also being degraded.

The chief of army staff commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to army while lauding the personnel for their performance so far.

While declaring the conference open on Tuesday, Buratai had described the army as a symbol of national unity and pride of the nation.

He assured that the army would continue to formulate strategies to confront the myriads of security challenges currently facing the country.