Operation Python Dance not targeted at any Ethnic Group – Brig. Gen. Usman

The Nigerian army has confirmed that the activities of the ‘operation Python Dance II’ currently going on in Umuahia and Aba is not targeted at one particular ethnic group.

Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, stated that it was an exercise that would be used to also curb the activities of cult-related groups in Nigeria.

He emphasized on the need for Nigerians not to panic should they observe their presence within their community.

“I made reference to Operation Crocodile Smile because there is so much mischief and misinformation in respect of Exercise Egwu Eke II. 

What we are saying is that the exercise is not targeted at any particular ethnic group or a group of persons.

The army needs to train because, in the event of being called upon by the civic authorities, we will know what to do. So, we are looking at large-scale security challenges and we train on those aspects. Last year, we had all these exercises based on the challenges at that time.

But this year, there are issues associated with criminalities such as Badoo and other cult-related activities. 

The problems associated with the North-West are different from the South-South or the South-East or a combination of both.

The whole idea is that these exercises are routine and some people only blow things out
of proportion. But we mean well and we just want to train our troops to be more professional”, he said.