A truck-load of assorted food items and other relief materials were on Saturday donated to the the internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camped at the Ogbe-Ijoh Primary School, Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state by the Nigerian Army.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham, who led other senior officers and men of the army to deliver the materials to the displaced persons, explained that it was part of the kick-off of the Exercise Crocodile Smile 3 in Delta state.

According to the General, who was conducted round Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities by the Commander of Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Colonel Alhassan Grema, and the Commanding Officer (Rear) of the 3 Battalion, Effurun, Major Salim Hassan, the newly launched Operation Crocodile Smile 3 has been designed to achieve peace and security within all commuties across the country.

Sarham, who had first paid a visit to the palace of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Bethel Delekpe, Oworhu 1, in his palace in Aladja, appealed to the traditional leadership as well as the people of the state for understanding as the Nigerian Army goes about executing the objective of the Operation Crocodile Smile 3, noting that the traditional leadership is in the best position to help the army pass the proper intent of the operation down to the citizens.

At the Ogbe-Ijoh IDP camp, the army chief assured the people that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, sympathised with them in their plight, adding that he had ordered that the food and other relief materials be provided to cushion the effect of their circumstances.

Speaking to the displaced persons, Sarham said “the Chief of Army Staff is aware of the plight of the victims of this natural disaster, he’s aware that the recent flooding has ravaged their communities and houses and because of that he directed me, along with these officers, this is the Commander of 16 Brigade, Exercise Crocodile Smile 3, to come and see the IDPs and donate these items to alleviate their sufferings”.

Meanwhile, explaining the concept and focus of the newly launched Crocodile Smile 3, Sarham said the exercise is designed to ensure that crimes do not thrive in any part of the country.

“Operation Crocodile Smile 3, basically means ridding communities of all crimes and criminalities, we are to safeguard lives and properties in all ramifications; be it naturally disaster like flooding and what have you. Also, we are not unmindful of the fact that there are criminal elements within society, so the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, has designed an annual training exercise, which dovetails into an operation to ensure that crime does not thrive in our communities, wherever located. That’s basically the essence of Exercise Crocodile Smile 3.

“However, you can’t do away in any given situation with mischief makers in any given situation. You are the press, you’ve seen what we’ve done throughout today, we’ve been together with you, you’ve seen the whole thing, it’s done in the open, we are at the vanguard of national development and you cannot develop without ensuring there’s peace and security in our environment”, he explained.

He also warned mischief makers from trying to negatively twist intent of the exercise, saying “we are firm in our resolve, we won’t allow any act of sabotage to be accommodated in our operations. The Nigerian Army remains resolute and we are committed to peace and security of all the citizens of Nigeria”.

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