The House of Representatives has approved the commencement of “Operation Positive Identification” across the country as initiated by the Nigerian Army
The House of Representatives has approved the commencement of “Operation Positive Identification” across the country as initiated by the Nigerian Army. The resolution was passed by the House after the adoption of recommendations of the House Committee on Army presented by Hon. Abdulrasak Namdas, at the Committee of the Whole chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase.
According to the 11-page report submitted by the Committee, “the operation will be intelligence-led and geared toward arresting insurgents and collaborators, some of which we are already done. Furthermore, it is to rid the FCT and cities of the remnant of insurgents who have escaped the heat of the bombardment.”
In his lead debate, Hon. Namdas disclosed that one of the Boko Haram commandants was arrested by the Nigerian Army in the course of implementation of Operation Positive Identification aimed at curtailing the movement of Boko Haram criminal elements, sympathizers and logistics suppliers as well as bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers,cattle rustlers and other criminals elements fleeing from the North East due to troops’ sustained bombardment and moving to safer areas of the country to perpetrate their heinous crimes.
Pleased by the successes recorded by the Nigerian Army in the previous anti-insurgent exercises carried out, the House resolved that: “The Army can continue with the Operation Positive Identification but in collaboration with other relevant security agencies, such as Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Police who should take the lead in the identification process.
“A joint intelligence and monitoring team should be set up by the agencies involved in order to checkmate possible abuse of the exercise, such as extortion and assault on the people. The Army should regularly brief the Committee on Army for proper assessment of the exercise. The Nigerian Army should disengage from the areas they have successfully completed operations and allow the Police to consolidate on the gains.”
Similarly, the House harped on the need for “serious and urgent attention for training and retraining of Nigeria Police with the view to equip the Police to curtail future insurrection or violence that may occur.
The House also tasked Nigerian Army to embark on serious enlightenment campaign before it commences any operation in the future, in order to “allay the fears of Nigerians that the Military may be used for wrong purpose.”
