Military: Operation Crocodile Smile may return to creeks

Indications emerged, weekend, that the Federal Government may order the return of the Special Military Intervention force, Operation Crocodile Smile, which was largely successful in smoking out militants and destroying their camps in the creeks, back to the Niger Delta region to checkmate attacks on oil pipelines and gas facilities that have serious effect on the nation’s economy.

It was gathered that the Military High Command has been told to re-energise its intelligence networks in the Niger Delta region while a massive redeployment of operatives from the security agencies has been carried out.

However, giving what seemed like a pointer to the coming action, President Muhammadu Buhari had said that “The repeated attacks in the Niger Delta have been impacting negatively on oil revenues.”

He spoke at the Passing out Parade of Cadets of the 63 regular course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, in Kaduna where he added, “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state that other options are still open including decisive military action, if necessary, to deal with the criminal elements disguised in ethnic regalia to sabotage the country largely for their selfish and parochial interests.”