Army launches nationwide exercises ahead of Yuletide

The move by the army is to effectively check all forms of criminality and allow for free movement of persons as the Yuletide and end-of-year activities approach.

News Agency of Nigeria • October 3, 2021

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major-General Farouk Yahaya

The Nigerian Army will commence a nationwide “Field Training Exercises” to prepare its officers for the impending Yuletide season and end-of-year activities.

Spokesman of the army, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the exercises are tagged “Golden Dawn,” “Enduring Peace,” and “Still Water.”

The move by the army, Mr Nwachukwu stated on Sunday, is to effectively check all forms of criminality and allow for free movement of persons as the Yuletide and end-of-year activities approach.

He said that the army chief Lieutenant-General Farouk Yahaya would symbolically launch all the exercises on Monday, October 4 at Ovie-Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, venue of Exercise Golden Dawn.

He added that the exercises were Field Training Exercises (FTEs) routinely conducted yearly by the army.

“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 at 2, 6, 81 and 82 Divisions Areas of Responsibilities (AOR) in the South-West, South-South and South-East regions respectively.

“They will also be conducted at Headquarters Command Army Records, 401 Special Forces Brigade and Guards Brigade Areas of Responsibilities (AOR) in the North-Central states of Kogi, Benue and the FCT respectively,” he stated.

Mr Nwachukwu said troops would be taken through operational rigours to effectively respond to security challenges ranging from kidnapping, banditry, thuggery and brigandage.

Others are armed robbery, cultism, communal crises, violent secessionist agitations, farmer-herder clashes, insurgency and other sundry crimes.

He added that the exercises would be complemented by the robust civilian-military relations activities in identified communities in the envisaged AORs.

“Consequently, members of the general public are please enjoined not to panic on sighting the movement of troops and equipment.

“They are also urged to please continue to support the army and other security agencies with credible information on the activities of criminals in their vicinities.

“Nigerians are encouraged to take ownership of the exercise for a seamless celebration during the Yuletide,” he appealed.