The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu on Monday raised concerns over the planned nationwide implementation of Operation Positive Identification (OPI) by the Nigeria Army, describing such as a recipe to the possible militarisation of Nigeria.
The House Minority Leader, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, maintained that such plan by the Army would lead to the infringement on fundamental rights of Nigerians, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended).
Hon. Elumelu stressed that the plan if allowed, would downgrade innocent Nigerians to suspects and conquered people in their own country; strip them of their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of movement and instil fear, anxiety and panic in the entire polity.
The opposition leader noted that the nationwide operation would also amount to an indirect imposition of a state of emergency across the country by the Army.
The Minority Leader contended that such 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 victimisation and extrajudicial killings”.
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Hon. Elumelu further pointed out that many Nigerians, particularly those living in rural areas, would be victimised, as there has not been enough public sensitisation for such security operation.
The Minority Leader noted that “though the nation is faced with serious security challenges and of course, appreciates the efforts by security agencies to safeguard lives, the planned implementation of OPI across the nation would worsen the situation in the country”.
According to him: “The Army and all security forces should rather develop more pro-people strategies in combating our security challenges instead of measure that could further victimise the people.”
He, however, urged the Army to concentrate on its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the country and allow the police and other relevant agencies such as Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to handle regulatory issues relating to internal security.
He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to review the planned commencement of nationwide execution of the OPI by the military on November 1, so as to create room for further consultations.
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