Director of Military Information, Major General Chris Olukolade
The military authorities have admonished Nigeria to ensure that
illegality is not encouraged in the name of militia, noting that “we
have enough experience across the board that when it starts the end is
often what even those who started it can no longer control.”
Director of Military Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, who
noted this during an interaction with journalists at the Secretariat of
the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Jos, was clearing the air on the
mixed information that trailed the recent killing in part of Wase local
government area of Plateau State.
He said, “What has been happening in the area, to the extent that some
people that constitute themselves into militia have the effrontery (or
let me say, the courage) to organise an ambush against troops on patrol;
in fact, not just ambush, but ambushed and killed soldiers on patrol
and abducted them, to the extent that soldiers are found killed and
their bodies mutilated, is most unfortunate.
“In the North-east, we found groups who have volunteered to provide
support for soldiers, but they are under control. But where a militia
group decides to constitute a threat to the security of all; we should
not encourage it.
“It is not correct, as seen in some syndicated stories that it was a
revenge mission. But the military will not tolerate the abuse of the
right of Nigerians anywhere. It is not true that there’s an orchestrated
plan to eliminate anybody. The military and other security agents are
created to protect Nigerians; and that is what we do. But if anything is
done against the norms of the profession it will not be condoned; it
will be duly dealt with.” On whether the insurgency in the North-east
will be eliminated before the May 29 handover date to a new government,
the General said, “the Nigerian military has been given the mandate to
do a job; to ensure that terrorism is nipped in the bud and that we are
doing. It is not in my place to controvert the position of the
authority.”
According to him, “the recent headway by the military in dislodging the
insurgents and rescuing their captives has been a result of increased
discipline among the soldiers, improved weapons, synergy among our
soldiers, and with the neighbouring countries”.
He said, in the past, when the terrorists were dislodged they found
safe haven to hibernate in the neighbouring countries from where they
return to cause more havoc. But with the recent synergy, the terrorists
no longer have such hiding places.
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