Warns IPOB, MASSOB against breach of peace
Herdsmen, kidnappers, robbers won’t be spared – Col. MusaCiting the need to protect the people of the South East adequately during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Nigerian Army has launched a special surveillance exercise tagged “Operation Python Dance” in the geopolitical zone.
The Army authorities warned secessionist and freedom activist groups that it would not tolerate acts that can threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity from them during the period.
Giving details of what the exercise entails, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, said that it would last from November 27 to December 27, 2016.
Col. Musa said that the military will use the exercise to flush out criminals such as kidnappers, armed robbers and curb herdsmen and farmers’ clashes.
The launch of “Operation Python Dance” came less than a week after an Amnesty International report accused the military of killing 150 members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) during their peaceful protests between August 2015 and August 2016.
The global human rights body also released videos showing soldiers and other security agents spraying live bullets and acid on unarmed pro-Biafra agitators who had gathered in a school premises in Aba, Abia State, to pray for the unconditional release of their leader, Dr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The Army, which faulted the Amnesty International’s report, admitted killing only five pro-Biafra protesters during the period.
In a statement announcing the launch of “Operation Python Dance”, the Army warned that it would not hesitate to apply the “rule of engagement to deploy troops on internal security operations and deal with secessionists as appropriate.”
Col. Musa, who sent the statement to journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State, said that the operation would also target armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen-farmers’ clash, communal clashes, among others.
He said the exercise had become necessary in anticipation of the rise of violent crimes usually experienced during the Yuletide.
The statement read in part: “It would be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, having painstakingly appraised the myriad of security challenges and scenarios across the country, directed on the conduct of both command post and field training exercises as a way of enhancing troops’ preparedness across the spectrum of contemporary challenges.
“Similarly, exercise Python Dance has been planned for the South East Region from 27th November-27th December, 2016. The prevalent security issues such as armed robbery, kidnapping, abduction, herdsmen-farmers’ clashes, communal clashes and violent secessionist attacks among others would be targeted.
“On this wise, the exercise would be multi-agency in nature whereby the Nigerian Army and other security agencies are expected to synergise and collaborate extensively”.
Col. Musa added that during the period under review, an elaborate civil-military cooperation line of operation had been planned. This includes Army Corps and Services conducting activities such as medical outreach, repairs of roads, schools, and other infrastructure across the South East region.
“The Chief of Army Staff has therefore directed that a contingent of durable mechanism be imbued in the overall planning as well as execution of the exercise to achieve a hitch-free Yuletide for the entire region,” he said.
The launch of “Operation Python Dance” came less than a week after an Amnesty International report accused the military of killing 150 members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) during their peaceful protests between August 2015 and August 2016.
The global human rights body also released videos showing soldiers and other security agents spraying live bullets and acid on unarmed pro-Biafra agitators who had gathered in a school premises in Aba, Abia State, to pray for the unconditional release of their leader, Dr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The Army, which faulted the Amnesty International’s report, admitted killing only five pro-Biafra protesters during the period.
In a statement announcing the launch of “Operation Python Dance”, the Army warned that it would not hesitate to apply the “rule of engagement to deploy troops on internal security operations and deal with secessionists as appropriate.”
Col. Musa, who sent the statement to journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State, said that the operation would also target armed robbery, kidnapping, herdsmen-farmers’ clash, communal clashes, among others.
He said the exercise had become necessary in anticipation of the rise of violent crimes usually experienced during the Yuletide.
The statement read in part: “It would be recalled that the Chief of Army Staff, having painstakingly appraised the myriad of security challenges and scenarios across the country, directed on the conduct of both command post and field training exercises as a way of enhancing troops’ preparedness across the spectrum of contemporary challenges.
“Similarly, exercise Python Dance has been planned for the South East Region from 27th November-27th December, 2016. The prevalent security issues such as armed robbery, kidnapping, abduction, herdsmen-farmers’ clashes, communal clashes and violent secessionist attacks among others would be targeted.
“On this wise, the exercise would be multi-agency in nature whereby the Nigerian Army and other security agencies are expected to synergise and collaborate extensively”.
Col. Musa added that during the period under review, an elaborate civil-military cooperation line of operation had been planned. This includes Army Corps and Services conducting activities such as medical outreach, repairs of roads, schools, and other infrastructure across the South East region.
“The Chief of Army Staff has therefore directed that a contingent of durable mechanism be imbued in the overall planning as well as execution of the exercise to achieve a hitch-free Yuletide for the entire region,” he said.
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