Share!
The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, warned that any group calling for secession from Nigeria or that takes up arms against constituted authority would be dealt with severely.
The military, while reacting to the recent upsurge in agitation for a Yoruba Nation in the South-west, described it as laughable. They added that any group that carries arms against the state will be treated as combatants.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, gave the warning while briefing journalists in Abuja, during the weekly press briefing on military operations across the country.
“These acts are against the constitution and, therefore, unacceptable for persons or groups to take up arms against a constituted government. Anyone or group that contravenes this provision of the constitution is inviting severe military action and would be dealt with decisively,” he said.
Buba said a cursory look at our security situation shows that it is unique, in the sense of being self inflicted. Beginning with the Boko Haram terrorist in the North East.
“The illegal mining and kidnapping enterprise in the North West and North Central, these are perpetrated under the guise of terrorism. The agitation of IPOB in the South East have proven to be for self aggrandisement.
Then, the call for a Yoruba nation which is laughable. All these buttress how our security situation is self inflicted in the country”, he added.
Denying responsibility for civilian deaths in Zamfara’s airstrike, General Buba defended the military’s actions.
He said the military has uncovered a plan by terrorists and their sympathizers to blackmail the military to stop its air and artillery bombardment of terrorist enclaves across all theatres of operations in the country.
“Being a professional force, due diligence by way of Intelligence, Surveillance and Recogniance is painstakingly taken to distinguish the terrorist before air strikes are conducted. These air strikes have resulted in the death of several of these terrorist leaders and the cohorts hibernating in enclaves across the theatres of operation.
“It therefore should not be surprising, that these terrorist and their sympathisers plot on blackmailing the military as a result of these air strikes. The plot is to depict some casualties as innocent citizens rather than cohorts of these terrorist.
“It is therefore important for the media to be wary of the antics of these terrorist groups and their sympathisers. Our operations have prevented these evil elements from accomplishing their strategic objectives,” he said.
Nigerian troops secured the release of 58 kidnapped hostages and apprehended 143 individuals, while neutralizing 71 terrorists in different theater of operations across the country.
According to him, a total of 122 Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) combatant terrorist surrendered with their family members, troops also arrested 37 perpetrators of oil theft in the Niger Delta.
He said in the South South, troops denied oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million Two Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Naira (N821,248,740.00) only.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 99 dugout pits, 36 storage tanks and 192 cooking ovens.
“During the process the troops recovered 349,970 litres of stolen crude oil, 112,135 litres of illegally refined AGO, 7,560 litres of DPK and 13,000 litres of PMS,” he said.
Speaking further, he said troops recovered 211 assorted weapons and 6,288 assorted ammunition.
He said the breakdown as follows: “128 AK47 rifles, 26 dane guns among other items. Others are: 1,301 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3,260 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,325 live cartridges, 140 round of 9mm ammo among other items.”
