•Denies granting amnesty to repentant terrorists
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has warned the emergent militant groups destabilising the economic infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, that they would be treated as criminals and that resources would be mobilised to crush their resistance.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, said that the military was not unaware of the emergence of a group in the Niger Delta region that has vowed to cripple economic activities through pipeline vandalism, oil theft and kidnap of expatriate workers in that region.
According to Abubakar, military “will not hesitate to deploy every available resources to deal decisively with any threats to economic lifeline of the nation.
“The military will employ all available means and measures within its Rule of Engagement to crush any individual or group that engages in the destruction of strategic assets and facilities of the government in the Niger Delta or any other location and they will stand to regret the consequences of their actions.
“The whole world has seen what they are causing in terms of economic terrorism against the nation and they will be treated as criminals in line with the laws of the land,” he stated.
He noted that while the military and other security agencies would continue to emplace more proactive measures within the creeks and other places to fish out those responsible for the heinous crime, it will remain focused and assure oil companies and law abiding community members of their safety and protection of their sanctity.
“The DHQ advises the community leaders, traditional rulers and the general public to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure the apprehension of the culprits for the interest of our great nation; as no individual or group interest is above national interest of this country,” he said.
In a related development, the DHQ has denied and condemned the report in some media that 800 Boko Haram members had been granted amnesty.
Abubakar in a statement on Tuesday, called on members of the public to disregard it, adding that it would not tolerate acts of terrorism or criminality by any group.
The Defence spokesman was reacting to the report credited to the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mohammed Sani-Sidi, saying that no fewer than 800 repented members of the Boko Haram sect were currently undergoing various training and acquisition exercise which was being handled by the military and monitored by the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He insisted that the report was false.
He clarified that the decision to rehabilitate repentant members of Boko Haram was based on a United Nations (UN) convention and could not be considered as amnesty.
He said, “The attention of Defence Headquarters has been drawn to online media stating that 800 Boko Haram terrorists were given amnesty.
“The story is false and has no iota of truth in it as DHQ has never mentioned Amnesty in all its statement.”
He continued: “In line with United Nations convention Charter, which Nigeria is a signatory, the Defence Headquarters came up with an initiative ‘Öperation Safe Corridor’. This initiative is geared towards rehabilitating and reintegrating the repentant terrorists back into normal life in the society.
“The general public should therefore disregard these insinuations as the initiative ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ should not be taken as Amnesty.”
“We hereby emphasise and stand our position that no act of Terrorism or Criminality will be condoned in our nation by any group. Please be guided,” Abubakar advised.