By Gideon Njoku
The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and the Yoruba One Voice, YOV, have expressed deep shock over the deployment of the Army for what the Army Leadership say is its “Annual Operation Crocodile Smile Exercise.”
The exercise, the Army always say, is to flush out criminals, in a show of force. It was such exercise, for the South-East, code-named Operation Python Dance, that forced IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kalu, into “exile”, killed many youths and, ultimately, was instrumental to the death of his parents. Both their Royal Highnesses, Eze and Ugoeze Kanu, were buried same day, after they died, in exile, outside their Royal Palace.
Their son, Nnamdi Kanu was absent at their funeral.
It, also, contributed to what most people saw, and still see, as the illegal proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government.
In this year’s exercise, the Army has added Cyber Crime to what its personnel would look out for.
However, many people say the beginning of Operation Crocodile Smile at this time is untidy, considering that Nigerian Youths are on the streets protesting the brutalities, humiliation and extortion meted out on Nigerians, especially, the youths, by the now defunct Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad, SARS.
The youths, flaunting a hashtag #EndSARS, have been protesting for 10 days, and even though the FG has bowed to them and dissolved SARS, replacing it with SWAT, the Youths are not impressed. Aside from rejecting SWAT, they insist it is SARS in a new bottle, and they are asking for more.
The protest is gradually becoming violent, with deaths and destruction, as well as hinging towards a revolution, with huge support.
Concerned about the shape the hitherto peaceful protest is taking, with thousands of youths grounding states, and making more demands, the FG has warned it may be pushed to forcefully break it.
It is in that line that many think that Operation Crocodile Smile is an indirect way of using force against the protesting youths. They warn of the dangers in doing that.
Reacting to the Exercise in a joint statement signed by Christy Ekama for IPOB, and Zacheos Somorin for YOV, the groups say the Operation Crocodile Smile is aimed at the protesters, and asked the Army to cancel the exercise. Expressing shock that such an exercise would be introduced now, it called on the International Community and the UN, to keep an eye on Nigeria, saying President Muhammadu Buhari would be held responsible for any loss of life during the exercise.
The joint statement by both groups reads:
“We read with shock and dismay the plan by the Federal Government to deploy the Armed Forces under the guise of “Operation Crocodile Smile” with the sole aim to quell the popular #EndSARS protests across the country.
“The protests are a clear testament to failure of leadership. We fully endorse the #EndSARS protests. We commend Nigerian youths for again rising to the occasion to redirect the drifting ship of state.
“The Federal Government must immediately rescind its decision to deploy the Armed Forces to truncate legitimate protests by Nigerians. This is contrary to international law.
“The Federal Government must not add to the gruesome bloodletting by the discredited SARS operatives through the ill-advised deployment of the Armed Forces.
“We will hold the Buhari Administration and its officials responsible for any killings occasioned by the deployment of the Armed Forces to quell legitimate civil protests.
“We call on the United Nations and the international community to take particular interest in the #EndSARS protests and the planned deployment of the Armed Forces, and to hold Nigerian officials to account for any infringement of civil rights.
“The Armed Forces must be reminded that their loyalty is to the Nigerian state. The era of regime protection is gone forever.
“We commend Nigerian youths for their courage and sacrifices in the face of police brutality, joblessness, insecurity, extra-judicial killings and hopelessness.
“We stand in solidarity with you in the struggle for a better future.
Billed to start on Tuesday, the exercise would end on December 30, 2020.
