Cyberwarfare: Army To Begin Exercise ‘Crocodile Smile V1’ Nationwide On Oct 20

The Nigerian Army on Saturday, said it would commence its annual Exercise CROCODILE SMILE V1, to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace.

The army said this year’s exercise would commence from the 20th of October and end on the 31st of December 2020.

This was contained in a statement issued by its Acting Director, Public Relations, Sagir Musa.

Recall that Exercise Crocodile Smile was first launched by the army in 2016 in the South-South region of the country.

Musa said it was the first ever cyberwarfare exercise to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces.

He added that the exercise would also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the North East and other parts of the country.

The army spokesman said: “The Nigerian Army is set to start its annual Exercise CROCODILE SMILE which is traditionally conducted in the last quarter of the year. This year’s Exercise CROCODILE SMILE V1 is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020.

“The Exercise is deliberately intended to be all encompassing to include cyber warfare exercises designed to identify, track and counter negative propaganda in the social media and across the cyberspace. This is the first ever Cyberwarfare exercise to be conducted in the history of the African Armed Forces. Accordingly, the exercise will also include positive identification component aimed at identifying Boko Haram terrorists fleeing from the North East and other parts of the country as a result of the ongoing operations in the various theatres of operations especially in the Northeast, North Central and North Western parts of Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Army, once again, reassures all well meaning Nigerians of its commitment to the sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria and urges members of the public for their support and understanding throughout the period of the exercise.”

The army, had a day ago, said that it would defend the country’s democracy at all cost.

The army took the decision on the heels of ongoing nationwide protests by youths in the country against operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). SARS is a unit under the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The protest is tagged #Endsars.

The protest is against reported cases of police killings, brutality, extortion and harassment.