The Nigerian Army has clarified that “Operation Crocodile Smile” is not targeted at #EndSARS protesters.

The Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa had on Saturday, 17th October 2020, stated that the Nigerian Army will commence it's Exercise Crocodile Smile VI Nationwide.

The statement caused a lot of reactions on social media as many believed the Nigerian Army wanted to attack protesters.

However, Sagir Musa, on Sunday, debunked the false allegations stating the exercise Crocodile smile is not targeted at protesters, according to Vanguard. 

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to some social media stuff wrongfully condemning the Army and its Leadership over the announcement of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI particularly the Cyber Warfare Component of the Exercise. This year’s Exercise CROCODILE SMILE is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020 has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise whatsoever.

“For the records, Exercise CROCODILE SMILE is a yearly exercise in the NA Calendar/Forecast of Events which traditionally holds from October to December of each year.

“Thus, to now insinuate that it is an exercise meant to stifle the ongoing END SARS protest is, to say the least highly misinformed. Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI has nothing to do with the ongoing protest and the NA has never been involved in the ongoing protest in any form whatsoever. So far, the army has acted professionally since the civil protest started over two weeks ago.

“The army hereby enjoins all law-abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered as the Exercise has nothing to do with ENDSARS protest, but a yearly event set out to train NA officers and soldiers in its efforts to ensuring safety and security of Nigeria and her citizens.”

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PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIAN ARMY SETS TO COMMENCE EXERCISE CROCODILE SMILE VI NATIONWIDE

1. The Nigerian Army is set to start its annual Exercise CROCODILE SMILE which is traditionally conducted in the last quarter of the year. This year's Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020.

2. The Exercise is deliberately intended to be all-encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace. This is the first-ever Cyberwarfare exercise to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces. Accordingly, the exercise will also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the North East and other parts of the country as a result of the ongoing operations in the various theatres of operations especially in the Northeast, North Central and North Western parts of Nigeria. 

3. The Nigerian Army, once again, reassures all well-meaning Nigerians of its commitment to the sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria and urges members of the public for their support and understanding throughout the period of the exercise.

SAGIR MUSA 
Colonel 
Acting Director Army Public Relations 
17 October 2020