Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Tuesday urged the army to guarantee that human rights violations are not part of the newly launched Operations Golden Dawn in the South-East Zone.
The Apex Igbo socio-cultural group said that it expected that there must be a human face in Operation Golden Dawn, devoid of any kind of ethnic cleansing and dishonesty.
Ohanaeze said such exercises meant to ensure peace and tranquility are always welcomed but stressed that the experiences of the past exercises are bad for Igbos.
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide called on Nigerian Army to ensure that “Golden Dawn” is done with rules of engagement without any form of intimidation on law-abiding citizens.
The Apex Igbo socio-cultural group also called on the Federal Government and the South-East Governors to ensure that the Nigerian Army must abide by the rules of engagement with high levels of professionalism based on military ethical standards.
Ohanaeze also advised that absolute professionalism must be allowed to drive Operation Golden Dawn, as the casualties of the previous operation Python Dances are responsible for the increased violence and insecurity in the southeast.
News Echo reports that the army had during the launching of the operation said that the ‘Golden Dawn’ is an operation launched to stem the tide of criminality in the zone as the yuletide approaches and also to checkmate emerging security challenges.
Ohanaeze also said that Igbos are foreseeing uncertainties and tensions if there are hidden agendas attached to the newly formed Operations Golden Dawn.
The group warned that the Military should not allow politicians to drag them into Anambra November 6th governorship elections.
Ohanaeze further warned that there should not be a repeat of the ugliest experiences of the previous operation of Python Dances in the zone characterized by intimidations, harassment of passengers and motorists, killings and dumping of corpses of suspected Biafra agitators especially IPOB members in the bushes, and unlawful incarceration of innocent people.
