Army to launch Operation Python Dance nationwide | Nairalaw

The Nigerian Army says it will soon conduct “Egwu Eke III” also
known as Operation Python Dance, across the nation.

Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, announced this at a news
conference in Maiduguri, Borno state, on Friday.

Buratai, represented by Lamidi Adeosun, chief of training and
operations, said the exercise will be conducted from January 1 to
February 28, 2019.

The army said the military operation was needed to tackle
already “observed upsurge’’ insecurity challenges in the buildup to
the 2019 elections.

Several states in the country, especially the northern region,
have been hit by series of attacks from the Boko Haran insurgent
group and clashes between herders and farmers, as well as a spree
of kidnapping activities.

“These challenges coupled with other security threats across the
country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry
portend that dissident group and criminal elements could cash in on
the situation to perpetrate large scale violence before, during and
after the 2019 general elections,’’ Adeosun said.

Asked why Egwu Eke III is being conducted nationwide and not
restricted to the south-east in line with its code name, Adeosun
said that there is python everywhere.

“Even in the desert of Borno, don’t forget, the Lake Chad basin
is there, python can also dance within the desert,” he said.

“In fact, we have desert python, so python will dance all over
the country this time around.”

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