A human rights group, Campaign for Democracy (CD) has frowned at the proposed relaunch of the third round of Operation Python Dance, also known as Operation Python Dance III by the Nigeria Army in the South-East region.
CD alleged that the planed operation was another ploy to unjustifiably kill defenceless Igbo youths.
National Publicity Secretary of CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor said in a statement that another Operation Python Dance in Igboland where there was no crisis amounted to a deliberate plot to provoke Igbo and slaughter their youths.
According to him, the exercises also showed the incompetence of the Nigerian military in handling the internal affairs of the country, adding that the military in Nigeria had come of age and should have a paradigm shift from “physicalism” to intelligence gathering and undercover operations.
“To announce to the whole world that you will be having Operation Python Dance or Snake Dance is to say the least, letting the cat out of the bag as such activities would definitely bring the military in direct confrontation with the civilian populace who they are supposed to protect.
“Previous outings of this operation have resulted in huge casualties of civilians. There have been instances where military might may have been required but where they failed woefully. The resources they are trying to put on ground for this Operation Python Dance III, if channeled to the flashpoints of the country, where the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram sects are wreaking havoc, would send a nunc dimitis to the sects and get them eradicated.
“It will amount to adding salt to injury for the military to come to the South East under the guise of Operation Python Dance III where the population is already saturated with heavy police presence at peace time. So, it will be superfluous for the military to add their presence in the South East and also very provocative.
“Since people are still recovering from the effects of the military/IPOB skirmishes in the recent past, my candid advice is for the military to allow the sleeping dog lie and to take their might to where it is needed in the North East and Middle Belt sections of Nigeria,” he said.
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