Ex-Police Commissioner Backs Military On Internal Security Operation.

Against the backdrop of outcry and calls against the planned military operation, tagged “Operation Positive Identification” due to commence next month, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Tsav has thrown his support behind the operation.

The military operation, which is due to commence next month is believed to be for tackling the menace of insurgency and insecurity in the country.

Tsav said he is in support of anything that can bring peace to the nation.

Tsav, who stated this today in an exclusive interview with THE WHISLTER, noted that there is so much rascality in the country.

He said: “No, you see, there is too much rascality in this country, general rascality by people doing what they want as though there is no law in this country. Where there is a situation which is likely to cause the general breach of the peace in the country, the army can help the police. The worst of it now is this social media where people can go ahead and post all manner of things, and they don’t care about the consequences and this can put the nation in turmoil. So for me, I support the operation. Anything that can be done to bring peace, let them do it.”

The former police boss maintained that he is not concerned that the army is taking over the duties of the police since it’s an issue of internal security.

 “No, the police and army can jointly do it, they are all working for the same purpose. They’re all working for the same nation. They’re all working for the same peace and security of Nigeria. So I see nothing wrong with it.”

On the calls and condemnation of the planned action by the national assembly and groups, the former police boss noted that the country’s politicians are common criminals.

Tsav alleged that politicians in the country are to be blamed for the rising insurgency in the country.

“The common criminals we have in this country are the politicians. They are the ones causing all the problems in this country. The problem of thuggery, violence and insurgency is created by the politicians. Boys, whom they employ to help them rig elections, and after elections, they put them in the field to cause trouble. So you see, the politicians are the ones causing all these.

He reiterated that politicians are the ones fueling insurgency in the country.

“Yes I said it and I want to repeat it again, they’re the ones fueling the insurgency in the country. Who are the people who imports arms into the country? Who are the people encouraging thuggery in the country? Who are the people who have introduced violence so that they can win elections? They’re the people.”

On whether the military can achieve anything by the operation, Tsav further said “yes if they work hand in hand with the police with other security agencies.”

The planned operation has continued to generate ripples in the country.

The House of Representatives had yesterday, October, 29 rejected the military action and called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari to call it off.

Senior lawyers, Mike Ozekhome, Monday Ubani and Femi Falana had also called for the suspension of the action. Ozekhome particularly called it a “height of insanity”

Other groups and bodies had also condemned the planned action.

While some groups view the operation as an avenue for extortion by the military, others see the planned military action as taking over the duties of other government agencies.

According to the Chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the exercise would be an avenue for extortion.

On the issue of the army taking over the duties of police and other agencies, a civil society organisation, Campaign for Democracy (CD) said such a development was not good for the country.

The CD National President, Usman Abdul, said, “When you come to millions of our citizens who are artisans, farmers and the like, you agree with me that a lot of them don’t have a means of identification and they have suffered over time even to be able to get the National Identity Card.

“Such steps by the army to begin to demand ID cards nationwide would amount to stepping out of its responsibilities. Absolutely the army has to reconsider such operation. It is not their responsibility to stop people and ask for ID cards. If at all, it is the duty of the police. The army should not take over the duties of the police and other agencies.”

But the army had on Tuesday described as “a fake alert” insinuations that Nigerians would witness a large number of army personnel parading the roads to demand identity cards.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, sent an alert by one organization, Bricks, to newsmen.

The organisation had said, “It has been officially declared that effective from November 1 to December 23, 2019, residents shall witness a large number of the uniformed Nigerian Army personnel parading the roads in an exercise known as Operation Positive Identification.

“The company has analysed the proposed situation and found this will result to certain disruptions.”

But in a photo caption, sent out on Tuesday evening together with the alert, Sagir described the information as fake.

The army spokesman put a bold red “fake alert” across a security advisory issued by Bricks.