Army To Demand ID Cards From Nigerians As ‘Operation Positive Identity’ Begins

In a bid to uncover people with questionable identities, the Nigerian Army has begun its “Operation Positive Identity” and Nigerians will henceforth be required to carry identification cards to prove their identity.

This was disclosed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai during the launching of routine military exercises, Crocodile Smile IV, Egwu Eke IV and Ayem Akpatuma II.

According to Buratai, the operation which is currently taking place in the Northeast, will be extended to other parts of the country, in a bid to prevent dislodged and fleeing terrorists from accessing peaceful zones.

The COAS said the operation is meant to curtail the movement of bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, ethnic militia and other criminals.

Buratai, who was represented by Chief of Training and Operations in the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. E. O. Udoh, stressed that the exercises became “necessary owing to the myriad of emergent threats that are burgeoning across the geo-political zones”. He added:

“As part of its constitutional roles, the Nigerian Army, acting in aid of civil authority, is poised to combating these threats.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has been declared 22 soldiers wanted for running away from the scene of a Boko Haram attack in Gubio, a community in Borno State that is now partly controlled by insurgents.

The 22 soldiers were all accused of absconding from duty to an unknown destination and should be arrested if found and returned in military escort to face disciplinary action.