Reps ask Buhari to suspend military’s ‘operation positive identification’

The House of Representatives has kicked against Operation
Positive Identification (OPI) which the army is scheduled to
commence on November 1, 2019 across the country.

The green chamber said rather than the army subjecting Nigerians
to conquered persons in their own country, the army should go on
the offensive against the Boko Haram insurgents.

The House Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, had raised a
point of order of national importance at the resumption of plenary
Tuesday, urging the House to stop the planned operation, saying it
would strip Nigerians of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom
of movement.

He insisted that the operation by the Army is a recipe for
possible militarisation of Nigerians, adding that such plan by the
army would lead to the infringement on fundamental rights of
Nigerians, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).

He added that the plan, if allowed, would downgrade innocent
Nigerians to suspects, while it would also instill fear, anxiety
and panic in the entire polity.

The minority leader noted that the nationwide operation would
also amount to an indirect imposition of a state of emergency
across the country by the army.

He argued that such proposed military operations that involve
direct contact and regulating of civilians could result in abuses
and serious safety issues, especially at this time the nation is
battling with the scourge of victimization and extra-judicial
killings.

In his contribution, Hon. Ahamadu Jaha said that travelling from
Abuja to Maiduguri before takes not less 14 hours under normal
circumstances, while wondering how many days it would take if the
army should commence the operation.

He stated: “While I’m in support of the motion, I will like to
emphasise that if our security chiefs are out of idea, they should
let Nigerians know about that so that they can voluntarily give way
for other people who have new ideas on how to fight insecurity in
this country.

“In the event whereby you have to ask them to identify
themselves in different military check points before they proceed,
for God sake, how many days will it take them (people) to move from
Abuja to Maiduguri or from Maiduguri to Chibok, or from Maiduguri
to Damboa or Maiduguri to Gwosa. So this is basically not the work
of the army but the work of immigration service.”

He said that prior to the inauguration of the members of the
House, substantial number of the lawmakers could not access the
National Identity Card because of the rigorous process involved in
getting the ID card, adding that how do the army expect a common
man from the village to have ID card before he moves around.

Jaha added: “Lastly, we better face the reality, we have a lot
to do with these military men particularly in the North-east. They
should go and be providing offensive operation, offensive attacks
to Boko Haram in North-east, banditry in North-west and other parts
of the country. This is not an idea at all. I condemn it in
totality.”

Also, Hon. Toby Okechukwu said that the army was simply trying
to engage in an exercise that is not within their purview.

He said it is a known fact that they are short of manpower,
while wondering why the army is now deploying the little manpower
they have on Nigerians.

The House therefore resolved that the army should therefore
develop pro-people strategy in confronting our security challenges
instead of measures that will further victimise the people.

The House further urged President Muhammadu Buhari, as the
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to review the situation and
stop the army from commencing the planned operation scheduled for
November 1, 2019 to make way for further consultations.

The House therefore directed the House Committee on Army to
liaise with the Chief of Army Staff to develop a pro-people
strategy in combating crime before commencing same.