The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that the decision of the Military not to after former Niger Delta militant warlord Mujahid Asari-Dokubo was aimed at avoiding comments accusing the military of acting undemocratically.
The comments were made by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, in Abuja on Thursday, while speaking on the reports made around after Asari-Dokubo issued threats to shoot down a military helicopter that flew above his residence
While speaking with journalists, the spokespersons noted that the threat of the ex-militant were laughable noting that he should fight the military if he was bold enough.
He noted that the country was running a democratic system of government that limited the actions of the military. Despite certain comments, he noted that the military will remain professional in all its dealings to ensure that they respect the rule of law. He noted that certain actions won’t be taken despite the comments of a single person. Buba noted that he was laughing at such comments.
He explained that the country’s constitution has mandated other institutions to tackle issues relating to such comments, explaining that not only the military has the powers to handle such issues.
Buba noted the threats were empty as he has no powers to perform such act but noted that the security agencies who are responsible in tackling such comments would be left to take the comments seriously. He charged the ex-militant to come to a battleground with the military where he would be taken out.
The spokesperson further noted that the military was focused on its operations to take out different terrorist groups in the country, which has formed part of the different operations that are being carried out in different parts of the country.
He noted that the fight before the military was the fight against criminality in the country. He explained that the criminals have been called different names in different parts of the country according to him, in the North-West and North-East, some will say terrorists, some may prefer to call them bandits.
He noted that despite the names called the criminals, they were all terrorists affecting the peace and stability of the country; he noted that the troops were making good efforts to ensure that the activities of the terrorists were brought to the bearest minimum elimination according to him was the priority of the military. The spokesperson disclosed that the military in the past three years has taken out over 300 terrorist commanders, with a good number of their foot soldiers.
He noted that the military aims to reduce the fighting powers of the criminals, which have been successful in the past years. He disclosed in an operation in Jigawa State, a terrorist kingpin known as Mai Hijabi was neutralised in operation within the week; the military killed a total of 165 terrorists while 238 who have been suspected to be involved in some criminal activities were arrested by the military.
Buba said a terrorist kingpin in Jigawa State, known as Mai Hijabi, was killed in an operation conducted during the week.
He noted that a total of 165 terrorists were killed, and 238 suspects were arrested.
