The Nigerian Army has said it has launched its annual three-month training exercises for its troops across the country in collaboration with sister security agencies.
The training exercises which started October to December 2023 are codenamed “GOLDEN DAWN III” in the South east, “ENDURING PEACE III” in the North Central and 'STILL WATERS III' in the South-South and South-West regions.
Announcing the operations during a media briefing on Friday at the army Headquarters in Abuja, the Director Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the exercise was meant to build the competencies and confidence of troops.
Nwachukwu explained that the exercises were in line with the Nigerian Army Training Directive for the year 2023.
"These exercises are designed to improve individual and collective professional competence and would dovetail into real time operations to tackle various peculiar security challenges in the geo-political zones," the army spokesman said.
He noted that in doing so, the Nigerian Army recognised the importance of collaboration and synergy among various security agencies in boldly confronting these security challenges, hence, "the upcoming training Exercise STILL WATERS III, Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III and Exercise ENDURING PEACE III project is to enhance the capabilities of troops, improve synergy with sister services and other security agencies and ultimately ensure the safety and security of the populace."
Giving details of each exercise, Nwachukwu stated "the Exercise GOLDEN DAWN III, taking place in the South-East is aimed at tackling security challenges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes and sundry crimes which become more pronounced in the build up to the yuletide, when many citizens return home to celebrate.
"The exercise will focus on enhancing the capabilities of our troops in intelligence gathering and effective, proactive response to criminalities. With the exercise, we aim to improve the security in the South-east and ensure safety of the populace during the period that will culminate in the yuletide.
"Exercise ENDURING PEACE III, taking place in the North-Central is primarily to address farmer-herder conflicts, cattle rustling, banditry, kidnapping, ethno-religious conflicts and terrorism among others.
"The exercise will equip our troops with the necessary skills to combat banditry, including hostage rescue operations, intelligence-driven raids and effective coordination with other sister services and security agencies.
"Exercise STILL WATERS III, taking place in the South-South and South- West will target the menace of cultism, robbery and kidnapping. It will equally seek to address the challenges of pipeline vandalism and other forms of economic sabotage.
"The exercise will also focus on securing critical infrastructures. Our troops would be trained on advanced surveillance techniques, rapid response tactics and the use of technology to effectively counter pipeline vandalism.
"By conducting this exercise, we aim to curb economic sabotage, protect national assets and ensure a stable environment for economic growth," he noted.