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By Philip Nwosu
The Nigerian Army said there was an attempt by fleeing bandits to attack Lagos and take over the economic nerve centre of the country.
The force said intelligence reports indicated that cult groups were planning to take over some key areas of the state, including Oworonshoki, Apapa, Surulere, Ajao Estate, Mushin and Ojo.
The 9 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Insang Akpaomuntia, who made the revelations, said the activities of the criminal elements pushed the Nigerian Army authorities to task the brigade to conduct Exercise Still Waters within Lagos and Ogun states.
He said troops of the brigade would be deployed to flush out the criminals in real time operations during the exercise which would last from October 18 to December 23, 2022.
General Akpamoutia stated that a recent intelligence report revealed an unprecedented wave of criminals within our environs, who had taken over some communities to perpetuate their criminal acts, adding that despite efforts of security agencies, the criminal elements have continued to engage in criminal activities, such as kidnapping, banditry, militancy, cultism, and other crimes within the city of Lagos.
He said the Brigade was tasked to conduct the exercise to curtail the criminal activities, in conjunction with other sister services and security agencies as the Yuletide approaches.
General Akpaumontia said the setting of Exercise Still Waters, is premised largely on conduct of military operations other than war mixed with cyber warfare, which forms part of military aid to civil authority, adding that the operation was designed to curtail activities of militants, armed robbers, kidnappers and oil thieves.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, flagged off the exercise in Lagos and Ogun states, to address insecurity during the festive period. He said the exercise would be based on the Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base Concept and would involve Civil Military Cooperation activities, as well as media operations.
The GOC assured that the waterways will also be secured because there would be military gunboats on patrol, and soldiers would be deployed to water banks and jetties across Ogun and Lagos states.
