Four soldiers drown during military’s ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ in Bayelsa waterways, two bodies recovered

The military on Monday recorded a fatal mishap during the ongoing military drill in the Niger Delta which claimed the life of four soldiers.

Col. Sani Usuman, Acting Spokesman of the Nigerian Army in a telephone chat on Tuesday, confirmed the death of four Soldiers in a boat mishap within Bayelsa waterways.

He said the soldiers drowned during the ongoing military training exercise code named; “Operation Crocodile Smile” after their boat capsised along Brass water front in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

Usuman, however, said that efforts were being made to recover the bodies of the soldiers.

A resident of the area, Mr Jonah Kennedy however disclosed that two bodies had so far been recovered.

According to Kennedy youths in the community were collaborating with the military to ensure the recovery of the remaining two bodies.

Mr Lloyd Sese, a Commercial Boat Operator and Bayelsa Chairman of the Maritime Worders Association while describing the incident as unfortunate, urged the Federal and State Governments to improve emergency response along waterways in the state.

Residents in Bayelsa woke up on Monday to see heady movement of military artillery troops on Monday and raised concerns over their safety as the military did not sensitise the communities in Bayelsa on the operation.