Defence Headquarters Reveals Terrorists Plans To Blackmail The Military, As Troops Kill 192 Terrorists, Arrest 341 Terrorists, Rescue 62 Kidnapped Hostages

Defence Headquarters Reveals Terrorists Plans To Blackmail The Military, As Troops Kill 192 Terrorists, Arrest 341 Terrorists, Rescue 62 Kidnapped Hostages

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has exposed 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.  

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba made this disclosure, during the biweekly briefing on the operational activities of the Nigerian military troops and other security agencies, across the federation.  

Speaking on the planned blackmail, Gen. Buba said: “It therefore should not be surprising, that these terrorist and their sympathisers plot on blackmailing the military as a result of the ongoing military air strikes. 

The plot is to depict some casualties as innocent citizens rather than cohorts of this 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 further noted that the nation and not the military goes to war.  Noting that the government alone cannot win the war against insurgency and terrorism without the support of the populace, Gen Buba, tasked citizens and civil society organizations to also play their role in the war against terror.   

He noted that troops killed no fewer than 192 terrorists, arrested 341 persons, and rescued 62 kidnapped hostages, within the period under review.  

“A total of  122 ISWAP/JAS combatant terrorist surrendered with their family members. Troops also arrested 37 perpetrators of oil theft. In the SS, troops denied oil theft of the estimated sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty One Million Two Hundred and Forty Eight  Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Naira (N821,248,740.00) only.”he added

Furthermore, troops recovered 211 assorted weapons and 6,288 assorted ammunition. 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. 

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.

The military recognises that there is still a  challenging and tough war campaign still ahead . Overall, our objective is to defeat the terrorist and their cohorts by denying them the ability to continue to fight. 

The lifeline of these terrorist groups is the people. Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible. It is for this reason, we encourage the civil populace and civil societies to galvanise  support in a whole of society approach to facilitate the total defeat of these terrorist. The time is now for citizens to know that they have a responsible to the nation. 

For instance, 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 NE. The illegal mining and kidnapping enterprise  in the NW and NC, these are perpetrated under the guise of terrorism. The agitation of IPOB in the SE have proven to be for self engrandisement. Then, the  call for a Yoruba Nation which is laughable. All these buttress how our security situation is self inflicted in 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 dealth with decisively. 

It will Above all, the fighting spirit of our men and women in uniform is strong, resilient, focused, proud and committed . We understand that we have no choice but to continue to fight to defeat  the enemy and create a safer environment for citizens.