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In a press briefing on Thursday, the Defence Headquarters articulated its rationale for not pursuing former Niger Delta militant leader Mujahid Asari-Dokubo. They conveyed that this decision was made to circumvent any accusations of undemocratic actions, illustrating the ongoing struggle to uphold democratic values in the face of security challenges.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, addressed a recent report involving Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, who purportedly threatened to shoot down a military helicopter that was seen hovering near his residence.
While speaking to journalists, the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters dismissed Asari-Dokubo’s threat as absurd, daring him to face off against soldiers on the battlefield if he truly possessed the courage he claimed.
Buba said, “Now, the comment by an individual that he can shoot down military helicopters is laughable. And I am about to laugh at that. We are in a democracy, and we are professionals. Of course, we cannot just, based on somebody’s comments, begin to take certain actions. They would accuse the military of being undemocratic.
“The military is not the only security force or department in the country. There are other security agencies that have a constitutional role to play in handling such issues.
“I tell you that he doesn’t have that capability, but I will allow the security forces responsible for such matters to take it up. As for us, come to the battlefield, and we’ll take you out. He should come to the battlefield and see whether we can react or not.”
Buba elaborated that the military remains dedicated to its mission of combating terrorism in various operational theaters, reinforcing their unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and maintaining peace.
Read also: IPOB Warns Asari Dokubo Against Interfering With South East
He said, “For us, the enemy we fight are the terrorists. Some may choose to call them different names in the different theatres of operations where they exist. In the North-West and North-East, some will say terrorists; some may prefer to call them bandits.
“I tell you, they are all terrorists, and that is what we see. Troops are making significant progress. As I mentioned earlier, we prioritise eliminating terrorist leadership, and we have been doing just that. In the last three quarters, we have taken out over 300 terrorist commanders, not to mention their foot soldiers.
“Our aim is to diminish their fighting capabilities and damage their military capabilities, which we have been successfully doing. As indicated in the brief you received, you can see how many weapons and ammunition we have recovered.”
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.
Buba said, “Our operations have destroyed a substantial part of the combat capacity of these terror groups and their leadership. For instance, one of the notorious terrorist commanders in Jigawa State, known as Mai Hijabi, was eliminated from the battlefield during the week. Troops are, therefore, increasingly making significant strides across all theatres of operations.
“During the week under review, troops neutralised 165 terrorists, arrested 238 persons, and rescued 188 kidnapped victims.”
