World News – GB – Operation Crocodile Smile targets criminals, protesters #EndSARS – Human rights groups

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups (CHRMG) has ensured maximum security for Nigerians throughout the Nigerian military operation’ Crocodile Smile ‘which it says is targeted at criminals

CHRMG coordinator Abubakar Gana gave this assurance Monday at a press conference in Abuja before the start of the exercise

Gana said the annual operation had no connection with the ongoing #EndSARS protests in the country, contrary to the misconception of « some distractors and gossipers of fake news »

In its own words, the ‘Crocodile Smile’ « aims to identify Boko Haram terrorists who are fleeing the hot theater of war in the northeast, but sneaking into other parts of Nigeria to cause atrocities « 

He added that « the exercise has also turned into the very first cyber warfare exercise designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in social media and cyberspace, which is a powerful weapon of terrorists in the world. war « 

According to the human rights group, the exercise is an « expression of the army’s unwavering commitment to peace and security in Nigeria, which it has always stood for. responsive and responsible manner, in a patriotic spirit over the past five years « 

Gana assured that the troops will continue to respect their basic human rights and act professionally as they have always done under the army chief of staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai

He added that « Nigerians can attest that the leadership of the Nigerian military under General Buratai has zero tolerance for unprofessional behavior, acts of indiscipline and human rights violations by the army personnel « 

CHRMG, however, has pleaded with Nigerians not to downsize and reject disinformation and fake news, especially on social media platforms about Exercise Crocodile Smile VI

The Coalition of Human Rights Monitoring Groups (CHRMG) Welcomes Members of the Kingdom’s Fourth State to This Press Conference We thank Almighty God for the gift of life and grace upon our beloved country Nigeria faces the many challenges of the nation

CHRMG believes it is imperative to address Nigerians on the Nigerian military’s conduct of the nationwide special edition of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI due to start within the next 24 hours We see this exercise as an expression of the Army’s unwavering commitment to the peace and security of Nigeria, which it has always defended with responsiveness and responsibility, in a patriotic spirit over the past five years.

But since the Nigerian military announced the conduct of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI, which was scheduled to start from October 20, 2020 until December 31, 2020, rumors, detractors and blackmailers have come to town with various inanities and have warded off fakes with the intention of discrediting the timely exercise as we approach the Christmas season and instill fear and panic in Nigerian

More laughable, some Nigerians have even linked Exercise Crocodile Smile VI to #EndSARS protests in the country and tried to poison the minds of Nigerians during this routine annual Nigerian military exercise But no blackmail or unwarranted negative profiling of the Nigerian military and operations will deter them from fulfilling their constitutional obligations.

From our vantage point as watchdogs of society, CHRMG assures Nigerians that it will mobilize observers and assessors to observe the conduct of the exercise across the country within the framework of our democratic rights to hold our leaders accountable to us We will not blink at this sacred obligation to our compatriots

But we have no doubts that, based on the Nigerian military’s excellent track record in numerous Special Missions on Homeland Security (ISO) operations, all law-abiding citizens are assured of their maximum protection and safety throughout the exercise except criminals We say this with confidence and doubts about it are out of place or out of tone with confirmable reality

The year 2020, a special version of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI as disclosed by army authorities is expansive Its range includes an identification component, aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing the hot theater of war in the northeast, but sneaking into other parts of Nigeria to cause atrocities The exercise also progressed to the very first cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in social media and cyberspace, which is a powerful weapon of terrorists in warfare.

Critics maliciously assigning new status and other disproportionate reasons for the conduct of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI are avowed enemies of Nigeria, who seek and pray for the continued destabilization of the country in perpetuity But Nigerians in the know of Nigerian Army operations under the leadership of the Chief of Staff of the Army (COAS) and Chief of Counterinsurgency Operations Lt Gen TY Buratai knows, the military has launched both the Nigerian Army Secure Information Platform (NASIP) which is merged with the Nigerian Army Cyber ​​Warfare Command (NACWC) server

NASIP is powered by strong storage capacity And the commitment of public resources in its upgrade is to fight cyber warfare These are the years of preparing the military to face the hydra-headed monster of the terrorism in cyberspace and other allied issues Exercise Crocodile Smile VI comes from this background

Previous exercises of this type by the Nigerian military have always complied with the highest principles of respect for the basic human rights of citizens throughout NigeriaThe Crocodile Smile VI exercise is no different! This special edition of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI is also expected to adhere strictly to the highest human rights standards set by SFOC Gen Buratai

Nigerians can attest that the leadership of the Nigerian army under General Buratai has zero tolerance for unprofessional behavior, acts of indiscipline and human rights violations by army personnel Over the past five years, the Nigerian military has remained true to the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and strictly observes global best practices in safeguarding the human rights of Nigerians in all of its operations.

Therefore, CHRMG is advocating for Nigerians not to cut back on consumption and reject disinformation and fake news, especially on social media platforms about Exercise Crocodile Smile VII a ploy of armed criminals to thwart the exercise, it therefore aims to apprehend them

We cannot deny that Nigeria is troubled by senseless acts of insecurity almost everywhere in the country So every Nigerian genuinely concerned about the peace and security of the nation should welcome exercise Crocodile Smile VI Those seeking to distract from the genuine agenda and the target of the exercise are the criminals and armed gangs who torment law-abiding citizens with violence and bloodshed.

The Nigerian military is only concerned with cleaning the country of bad elements to make Nigeria a proud place to live. Those who fear are the criminals, armed gangs, their conspirators, accomplices and proxies

Putting the cart before the horse is foolish Critics claiming Exercise Crocodile Smile VI is a witch hunt by Nigerian soldiers and preventing the military from violating citizens’ human rights may need to reexamine themselves themselves and their conscience

As previously promised, CHRMG monitors and evaluators will keep a close eye on the conduct of Exercise Crocodile Smile VI to ensure that no existing laws are violated or that citizens’ human rights are violated. And where it does, the group will not hesitate to inform Nigerians and relevant authorities as well as to seek justice if necessary

We wish you a merciful journey to your various destinations and God bless and protect the Nigerian army and its leaders for the wisdom of patriotic duty; God bless Nigeria Thank you everyone

Nigerian Army, Nigeria, End SARS, Demonstration, Human Rights, Muhammadu Buhari