Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has dismissed rumours that the military under Operation Crocodile Smile II were administering poisons to civilians in the state.
The governor argued that the military cannot give Nigerians poison in whatever form.
Dickson at the weekend urged the people of Bayelsa state to discountenance the rumour that the exercise would endanger the health and safety of the people.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Francis Agbo in Yenagoa, said Dickson made the call while receiving a letter of commendation from the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai
Dickson, who described the rumour as unfounded, urged Nigerians not to panic.
“The military and other security agencies are a force for good and I want to use this opportunity to call on community leaders to continue to support the military.
“We can’t have a Nigerian military that is coming here to inject people with poisonous substances.
“That is not the army we have. This is our own army. These are our brothers, friends and fellow Nigerians who mean well for all of us.” Dickson was quoted as saying.