Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has launched a joint security operation for the Southeast geo-political zone of the country.
The exercise code-named ‘Golden Dawn’ is to stem the tide of criminality as the yuletide approaches.
At the ceremony in Enugu, Lt. Gen. Yahaya said similar exercises will take place simultaneously in other zones of the country, noting that these were to checkmate emerging security challenges.
According to the Chief of Army Staff, the exercises which are routine operations conducted yearly by the Nigerian Army was to also allow free movement of persons during the months leading to the Yuletide and end of the year activities.
Exercise ‘Golden Dawn’ is for the South-East, while the South-South and South-West would experience Exercise Still Waters, other parts of the North-Central and the FCT would have ‘Exercise Enduring peace’, he explained.
Lt. Gen. Yahaya noted that the operations would be in collaboration with sister security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Fire Service as well as with other stakeholders.
The Chief of Army Staff, further explained that the South-East was chosen for the launch of the exercise in view of the emerging security challenges in the zone, as well as the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
RN