Security agencies have resolved to eschew rivalry and collaborate to stamp out kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, cultism and other violent crimes in Lagos and Ogun States.

This resolution was reached at a training day for Exercise Crocodile Smile IV starting from November 8 to December 23 organised by the 81 Division Nigerian Army at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos.

The Nation reports that Crocodile Smile is an Army Headquarters sponsored joint operation usually embarked upon during the ember month to tackle criminalities.

Agencies at the event yesterday included the Police, army, Nigerian Navy (NN), Nigerian Airforce (NAF), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service (NPS) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Speaking at the event, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC) said the exercise would be conducted in 2, 6, 81 and 81 divisions simultaneously.

He said that the exercise would be carried out on both land and waterways, adding that it would metamorphose to a real operation if a potent threat was encountered
Daji said: “Similar exercises were conducted in the past years and this is therefore another opportunity to consolidate on the gains achieved in our internal security operations by clearing identified critical threats, particularly those along our waterways and hinterlands.

“The two basic objectives are training and operational. The conduct of the exercise will feature aspects of civil-military cooperation, media, psychological operations, rules of engagement and the observance of international humanitarian law in the conduct of the joint operations.

“It is therefore my hope that the strategic end state of the exercise and training will achieve the theme of the training which is ‘Interagency cooperation: imperatives for efficient joint operations’.

“This will assist in carrying out the myriad of internal security responsibilities especially those that concern the protection of lives as well as critical national assists against warranted attacks and sabotage.”

Earlier, the General Offcier Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Maj.-Gen. Olu Irefin said parts of the objectives of the exercise was to improve troops and relevant security agencies operational capacity as well as strengthen cooperation and synergy in tackling common security challenges confronting the country.

He said the exercise would include medical and educational outreach to less privileged communities.

“The Nigerian Army concluded the maiden operation CROCODILE SMILE I in 2015 within and around the Niger Delta region. The exercise yeilded great success which included degradation of the activities of militant, destruction of kidnappers’ den, rescue of kidnapped victims and destruction of cultists’ camps among others.

“The successes of the exercise, however, pushed some criminal elements to other parts of the country, thus necessitating Exercise CROCODILE SMILE II and III. In order to consolidate on the gains of CROCODILE I to III.”