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The Nigerian Army has started a stop and search operation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States as part of the ongoing war against Boko Haram in North East codenamed, “Operation Lafiya Dole.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, Colonel Ado Isa, Deputy Director Army Relations of Operation Lafiya Dole said the stop and search operation of the theatre command is called “Operation Positive Identification”.
According to him, “the operation is aimed at searching for and arresting all suspected erstwhile Boko Haram/ISWAP criminal elements that roam some parts of the North Eastern part of the country.”
He said the operation became necessary “following credible information that some of the fleeing criminals are hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe States in particular and North East in general.”
He advised members of the public moving or passing through the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to always carry valid means of identification, stressing that troops have been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification such as National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification, before allowing such person passage.
Col. Isa added: “The Theatre Command also wish to state that anyone not positively identified will attract further scrutiny and comprehensive investigation to determine his or her activities with the insurgents or otherwise.
“The general public is please requested to bear with this measure as it is in their best interest and our national security, as well as efforts to end the madness called insurgency as perpetrated by the erstwhile Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters.”