The Nigerian Army is set to initiate a comprehensive nationwide military exercise aimed at ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians during the upcoming Yuletide season.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, addressed the press on this exercise at the Army Headquarters. He highlighted that in accordance with the Nigerian Army Training Directive for 2023, troops from the Nigerian Army, working in collaboration with Sister Services and other security agencies, will conduct training exercises across the nation from October to December 2023.
The primary objective of these exercises is to enhance both individual and collective professional competence among the armed forces. Furthermore, they will transition into real-time operations designed to address various security challenges specific to different geographical regions.
Nwachukwu elaborated on the exercise’s code names: “GOLDEN DAWN III” will be conducted in the South East, “ENDURING PEACE III” in the North Central, and “STILL WATERS III” in the South South and South West.
The “GOLDEN DAWN III” exercise in the South East is tailored to address security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes, and other crimes that tend to increase during the yuletide season. The focus will be on strengthening the troops’ intelligence gathering capabilities and their ability to respond proactively to criminal activities. The objective is to improve security in the South East and ensure the safety of citizens during the festive period.
In the North Central, “ENDURING PEACE III” will primarily tackle farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts, and terrorism. The exercise aims to equip troops with the skills needed to combat banditry, including hostage rescue operations, intelligence-driven raids, and effective coordination with sister services and other security agencies.
In the South-South and South-West, “STILL WATERS III” will focus on combating cultism, robbery, kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, and other forms of economic sabotage. The exercise will also prioritize the protection of critical infrastructure. Troops will receive training in advanced surveillance techniques, rapid response tactics, and the use of technology to counter pipeline vandalism. The ultimate goal is to curb economic sabotage, safeguard national assets, and create a stable environment for economic growth.
Nwachukwu emphasized the importance of collaboration and synergy among various security agencies in addressing the nation’s security challenges. The Nigerian Army has been actively cooperating with sister services and other agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Customs Service, among others. Joint training exercises and intelligence sharing will be integral to their approach.
Nwachukwu reiterated the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to addressing emerging security challenges in troubled areas of the country. The upcoming training exercises—STILL WATERS III, GOLDEN DAWN III, and ENDURING PEACE III—aim to enhance the capabilities of troops, improve synergy with sister services and other security agencies, and ultimately ensure the safety and security of the populace.
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