The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Port Harcourt, Major General Jamil Sarham, led the army to make the donations to the displaced flood victims in line with its corporate social responsibility.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the army boss said that the provision came at the instance of the Chief of Army Staff (CAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai as part of the activities outlined for the Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018.
“The CAS sympathised with the victims of the recent flooding that ravaged houses, brought some untold hardship to them. He donated these items to alleviate your suffering.
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“He has also directed that you consider what he called “Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018.” It means keeping the people safe,” he said.
Relief items donated included; bags of rice, bags of garri, vegetable oil, several cartons of Indomie and table water.
The Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018, it will be recalled, was kicked-off on Nov. 1 in Bayelsa State while that of Delta began on Fri November 2.
Sarham said Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018 was basically to ensure the safety of lives and properties in all ramifications and not to disrupt peace in the Niger Delta as misinterpreted by some individuals and groups.
“It is aimed at ridding communities of crimes and criminalities, basically to safeguard lives and properties in all ramifications.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that there are criminal elements within the society here.
“The Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, has designed an annual training exercise which they turned into operations to ensure that crime does not thrive in our communities wherever it is located.
“We are in the vanguard of national development and you cannot develop when there is no peace and security,” he enthused.
The GOC and his convoy had earlier met with warning people of both Aladja in Udu local government and Ogbe-Ijoh to intimate them of the commencement of the exercise.
He said that the exercise was not to harm or disrupt peace but to identify criminal elements, curb violence, smash pipeline vandalism and other economic assets in the Niger Delta region.
He solicited the understanding, support and cooperation of the people throughout the period of the exercise and beyond.
“We are here to conduct Operation Crocodile Smile Three 2018 in your domain; soldiers are servants of the people; we are agents of peace; we engendered development,” he said.
Sarham appealed to both communities to adopt the principles of dialogue in resolving their differences, adding that it was normal to have a misunderstanding.
He urged them to be law-abiding, assuring that the COAS was surely behind them to ensure their safety.
“Nobody should come with any form of propaganda about what the army is doing for the communities in the course of this exercise and beyond,” he averred.
The convoy thereafter moved to the 3 Battalion (Rear) Tactical Headquarters, Egbokodo, Warri South Local Government Area to meet with the personnel.
The army boss commended them for their good work but warned against being used by saboteurs, while charging them to continue to uphold the ethics of the military profession.
“It is an offence to communicate with the enemies; do not take part in the campaign; do not support any political party; you must remain apolitical,” he admonished.
Meanwhile, one of the benefitting flood victims, Mrs Elizabeth Bayo, 64 years old and mother of four children, thanked the Nigerian Army for the relief materials.
Coordinator of the IDP camp and staff of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs Bridget Ezonfada, who disclosed that there are over 2000 flood victims comprising children and adults, expressed gratitude to the Army for the benignity and selfless service for the nation.
and then