Egwu Eke II: Troops will abide by rules of engagement, says Army spokesman

The Nigeria Army has assured residents of South East and Cross River State that troops involved in the ongoing military exercise will abide by rules of engagement.
Egwu Eke II, a military training exercise, commenced on Friday.
“The troops in Egwu Eke II, which when translated means Python Dance II, will also display high sense of professionalism,’’ Col. Sagir Musa told journalists in Enugu on Friday.
Musa, who is a Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, said: “”Any act of indiscipline by any soldier or officer will be decisively dealt with.’’
He said  the ongoing training exercise was not meant to target any group, individual or state as erroneously painted by some people.
He noted that the exercise, which had become a yearly routine, would always come-up during the “”Ember months’’ in order to quell  rising crime associated with the period in the South East.
“”The training exercise will effectively check armed banditry, kidnapping, cultism, communal clashes as well as violent secessionist activities in the South East and its general area,’’ he said.
The deputy director called on law abiding citizens in Abia, Enugu Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo and Cross River , where the exercise will take place, to go about their lawful businesses.
Musa warned that the army would not allow any individual or group to jeopardize the conduct of the field training exercise through unlawful or criminal activities.
“”We are carrying out the military training exercise in every other parts of the country especially in the army divisional command headquarters’ areas of responsibility scattered throughout the country.
“”The one being done in the South East is not an exception,’’ he noted.
According to him, commanders have been instructed to ensure that all hands are on deck to commence and carry on the exercise to its logical conclusion.
He said successful completion of the exercise would dovetail into various states security outfits operations till the end of this year.