Crocodile Smile 2: Governors Wike, Fayose Commend Military; Say Detractors Have Failed; Want Operation extended to Contain Fulani Herdsmen Killings.

Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Seriake Dickson and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State have reviewed the just ended Exercise Crocodile Smile in the Niger Delta and South West regions and commended the Army for the successes achieved.

According to Governor Wike the Army exercise, Crocodile Smile II conducted in the Niger Delta recorded huge successes in spite of misgivings by detractors.

Represented by Secretary to the state Government, Kenneth Kobani at the closing ceremony at Iguruta, Etche LGA, Wike said “The Nigerian Army has done a wonderful job, detractors have failed. The exercise has succeeded in flushing out criminals from the state and other parts of the region”.

He pledged that states in the region would continue to support the Federal Government and military to ensure lasting peace in the area.

His Bayelsa counterpart, Seriake Dickson who was represented by John Jonah, Deputy Governor, noted that the exercise has helped to arrest a lot of cultists in the state suggesting that army authorities should include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in future exercises, because “drugs fuel cultism.”

He also commended the army for organizing a medical outreach programme which had impacted positively on the health of the people.

On his part, Governor Fayose stated that the military should now direct its “operations Python Dance and Crocodile Smile” to those areas in Nigeria, especially the North Central States of Benue, Plateau as well as North East States like Taraba and Adamawa where Fulani herdsmen are killings Nigerians and destroying farmlands worth several billions of naira.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said; “If the Federal Government does not want to be seen as protecting the Fulani herdsmen, attention of the Army’s python that is dancing in the Southeast and crocodile that is smiling in the Southwest and South-South should be focused on the killer herdsmen”.

“The moment a state governor begins to raise alarm as done by Governor Ortom of Benue State, those playing ostrich to the Fulani herdsmen menace should know that they can no longer pretend that all is well”.

Alleging cover up by the federal government any time Fulani herdsmen attacked and caused Nigerians havoc, Fayose said; “On June 17, 2007, when clash between herdsmen and local farmers in the Mambila area of Taraba State resulted in casualty from both sides – herdsmen and local farmers, soldiers were promptly deployed.

 “However, the same federal government that responded swiftly when local farmers in Taraba State confronted the Fulani herdsmen, leading to casualties from both sides; never responded in such a swift manner to previous attacks carried out by the Fulani, even when villages of the locals in the state were sacked.

“Within just 48 hours of the clash between the Fulani herdsmen and the local farmers in Mambila Plateau, the Taraba State Police Commissioner moved in, army battalions moved in and a military surveillance helicopter was dispatched.

“This did not happen when herdsmen were committing genocide against the villagers in Agatu in Benue State, Southern Kaduna, Kogi, Ekiti, and Delta States.

 “Are we now to believe that it is only when Nigerians choose to defend themselves against the killer herdsmen that the federal government will act swiftly?

“Like I have maintained, pastoralists do not have rights to destroy other people’s farmlands, invade homes and rape people’s wives and daughters?

“Rather, people who are into cattle farming should be able to provide feeds for their animals and the federal government must not be seen as protecting the interests of the herdsmen against those of other Nigerians”, Fayose added.

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