The Nigerian Army has announced October 20 as the date to commence its annual “Crocodile Smile” exercise which it says will counter negative propaganda in social media and across cyberspace.
The exercise comes at a time when thousands of Nigerian youths are demonstrating in major cities across the country demanding good governance and an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
On Thursday, the Nigerian Army said it was “highly committed to defending the country and her democracy at all cost”, issuing a stern warning to “subversive elements and trouble makers” to desist after a week of protests about police brutality.
Army spokesman Musa Sagir in a statement said the exercise will run from Tuesday, October 20 to December 31, 2020.
“This year’s Exercise CROCODILE SMILE V1 is deliberately intended to be all-encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track, and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace,” Sagir said.
He said the cyber warfare exercise is the first ever to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces.
“Accordingly, the exercise will also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the North East and other parts of the country as a result of the ongoing operations in the various theatres of operations especially in the Northeast, North Central and North Western parts of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Army, once again, reassures all well-meaning Nigerians of its commitment to the sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria and urges members of the public for their support and understanding throughout the period of the exercise.”
By Abel Ejikeme
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