Nigeria military, DSS, others conduct joint show of force in the Southeast
The cities of Aba and Umuahia in Abia and all other major Southeastern cities, including Cross River have witnessed a state of commotion and fear at what the residents assume to be the beginning of the rumoured ‘Operation Python Dance III’ – a return of the special military assignment in Southeast Nigeria which started in September, 2016 and repeated around the same period in 2017.
The Operation Python Dance, especially the second exercise had earned public outcry and criticism owing to reports of alleged human rights abuses by Amnesty International.
According to the Army, the current exercise was a benign Joint Show of Force that is not targeted at any particular group, rather it is aimed at reducing the rate of crime and to be able to confront complex security challenges that might unfold in the region. It went ahead to also state that the purpose of the exercise was carried out to serve a warning to those who might have the intentions of disturbing public peace as the election approaches.
All major cities in Abia, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Cross River witnessed the presence of security forces from various designations of the military, including the DSS, Air Force and the Navy.
Other security agencies involved in the exercise were the Road Safety, Civil Defence, and Mobile Police Force. The exercise was led by the 82 Division of Nigeria Army in Enugu, and jointly coordinated by different Brigades and Regiments across the entire region.
“In the face of emerging security challenges and the impending general elections, the need to warn criminals, saboteurs and other trouble makers in our Area of Responsibility to stay clear becomes imperative”. Hence, it is necessary we occasionally and jointly conduct this exercise,” the 82 Division Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Musa Sagir revealed.
