The controversial Operation Python Dance being carried out by the Nigerian Army in the Southeast would be staged in the sub-region every year.

The spokesperson for the 82 Division, Enugu, Col. Sagir Musa, made this known in a statement. Musa’s statement comes amid criticism of the Federal Government by some Nigerians, including foremost lawyers, for allowing the military deploy troops in the region.

One of such lawyers is Femi Falana (SAN).

The revered constitutional lawyer last week said the deployment of troops in Abia state was unconstitutional.

He spoke against the backdrop of clashes that followed the arrival of troops in the state, which left some persons dead.

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were reported to have blocked major roads in the state to prevent the country’s military personnel from carrying out their exercise.

They believed the Army was in the state on a different mission.

And their action, according to the military, although denied by them, resulted in bloody confrontation between the troops and the pro-Biafra agitators.

But the army spokesman insisted that the operation was not targeted at anybody or group.

“Exercise Egwu Eke 11 (Python Dance 11) is now a scheduled Nigerian Army exercise to be conducted annually in the Southeast region and is not targeted at any individual or group,” Musa said.

“Law abiding citizens need not to fear and are advised to freely go about their normal business.”

He explained that the first episode of the operation, which held in 2016, was successful, hence the need to continue.

“The peculiar security challenges in the region, such as kidnappings, abductions, violent secessionist agitations, armed robbery, farmers/herdsmen clashes, communal crises and an extra-ordinarily annual traffic gridlock at the Asaba-Onitsha bridge among others which are the focus and targets of the exercise were then successfully addressed,” he said.

Musa added that Operation Python Dance was designed to improve soldiers’ agility and preparedness.