Targeting Boko Haram, Daesh militants, Nigeria to require ID cards in the northeast

Ahmed Adel

Nigeria will require anyone moving through three northeastern states to carry identification cards in an effort to root out members of Boko Haram and Daesh, the army said on Sunday.

The Nigerian Army has announced the launch of “Operation Positive Identification” against fleeing Boko Haram in the North-east, have now been largely limited to the three North-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

The new army operation was announced by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Ado Isa.

He urged the public to always carry valid means of identification when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Isa said the operation was aimed at searching for and arresting all suspected terrorists that currently roam some parts of the North East.

This, according to him, has become 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.

Army spokesperson disclosed that the troops had been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification of persons before allowing them passage.

He advised people to always carry National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification.

In total, around 30,000 people have been killed, and more than two million forced to flee their homes, in the decade-long insurgency led by Islamist militant group Boko Haram. Daesh in West Africa (ISWA) split from Boko Haram in 2016.

The United Nations has said that 7.1 million people still need humanitarian assistance in the region.

African affairs researcher Nasser Mamoun told The Reference in an interview that the Nigerian army is determined to resume war against Boko Haram, which killed and terrorized civilians north of the country.

He pointed out that these steps indicate that the group has spread dramatically, which is a serious threat, therefore the army has decided to tighten its grip on the country to hunt down the terrorist organization.