Crocodile Smile VI is not targeted at #EndSARS protesters – Nigerian Army says

The Military has dismissed claims that the Army Special Operation, Exercise Crocodile Smile VI, set to be launched on October 20 is meant to stifle the #EndSARS protesters.

Recall that over the weekend, the Nigerian Army announced that beginning from October 20, it will commence a program tagged ‘Exercise Crocodile Smile VI’. The military said the exercise is aimed at enhancing the safety and security of the country. Read here.

According to the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, the exercise was traditionally scheduled in the last quarter of every year to checkmate all forms of crimes and criminality as the end of the year approaches. He explained that this year’s exercise is intended to be more all-encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track, and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace.

 

Source: Lindaikeji

 

End SARS: Falana sends strong warning to Buhari over use of Army against protesters

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to use the Military against #EndSARS protesters.

He also said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, risks facing the International Criminal Court (ICC) if any of the protesters is killed. In a statement as the Chairman of the Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Falana advised Buhari to withdraw plans to engage soldiers for what is a purely democratic issue. ASCAB said protests have commonplace across the world as seen in Hong Kong, US, France, South Africa, Belarus and even in Sudan.

“It is unfortunate that the Nigerian government is sending a signal to the military that it has a role to play in a purely civil matter. “The plan to deploy soldiers is dangerous. It will push Nigeria into the red light district of global reckoning,” the statement read. It urged “Buhari not to use soldiers to quell a peaceful, civil protest. The protesters have been lawful. The few cases of violence were associated with armed thugs disrupting the protests coupled with the shooting of protesters by security operatives.

 

Crocodile Smile: Gani Adams writes Buhari, warns against attack on protesters

Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has written President Muhammadu Buhari, warning against the use of military force against protesters across the country.

This is despite the Nigerian Army saying that its announced plans to kick off ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ across the 36 states of the country was not because of the ongoing protests.

The protests calling for scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and total overhauling of the police have endured for over two weeks now.

In a letter to President Buhari on Sunday, Adams said instead of deploying soldiers against peaceful protesters, the President should listen to the people to not only reform, but transform the police.

 

Source: Daily Post