The umbrella body of Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has appealed to the Nigerian Army to abort its planned Operation Crocodile Smile in the oil – rich region.

 

In a statement signed by its Co-ordinating Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, the group noted that the planned deployment of troops to the region was wrong and had no basis as the Federal Government was already making efforts to sustain peace and development in the region.

“It is no longer news that there has been relative peace in the Niger Delta region following the understanding reached with the aggrieved agitators by the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, which has consistently demonstrated the primacy of dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts rather than destruction of oil and gas assets in the region,” Mulade said.

“It is on record that the Federal Government has made some indications of its readiness to ensuring the fast-tracking of the development efforts in the region by the adoption of the 16 – point agenda as a working tool for this purpose as well as the positive pronouncements on some of the 16 – point items for immediate implementation.

“It is on this premise that PANDEF was taken aback by the announcement of the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig – General Sani Usman of the readiness of the Nigerian Army to launch ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in the oil-rich South – South region, just as ‘Operation Python Dance’ was being deployed in the South – East zone of Nigeria, which has elicited mixed reactions from a wide range of stakeholders,” he added.

The group further posited that although it cannot challenge the operational deployments of Nigerian soldiers in any part of the country, it has observed that the contemplated deployment of ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ was misconceived as the region was already coming to terms with the urgent need to sustain the peace in the region.

Recounting the tales of woe that accompanied the launch of ‘Operation Crocodile Smile I’ in the region last year, the group noted that a second launch of the operation would not fare any better as it would rather threaten the fragile peace currently existing in the region.