Boko Haram looting our armoury – Defence Headquarters
The Defence Headquarters has said that
it was aware that members of the outlawed Islamist sect, Boko Haram,
were in the habit of looting its armoury.
The
military authorities stated that they were making efforts to secure all
armouries in its various formations across the country.
Director
of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, made the disclosure
during his first real-time Twitter chat which held on Sunday night.
The
army general was, however, not categorical about the grades of weapons
just as he did not name the armouries that have so far been looted by
the insurgents.
“We are taking
measures to ensure that our armouries are secured. We agree and are
aware Boko Haram has stolen arms,” Olukolade said while responding to an
inquiry by one of the participants of the Twitter chat.
The
Defence spokesman explained that the military high command frowned on
the proliferation of arms, noting that inter-agency cooperation had
recently been heightened to contain the menace.
According
to Olukolade, the policing of Nigerian borders with other West African
neighbours have been
repositioned in view of the security threats posed
by the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Interagency
collaboration has been heightened; from all indications policing of our
borders has increased. Our strategic information-sharing policy
considers transparency, security, propriety and accuracy in reporting to
the public,” he added.
Warning that
the military would deal decisively with saboteurs among its officers and
men engaged in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North
East, Olukolade said the service chiefs were “monitoring all personnel
both in the frontline and rear”, adding that “suspicious people are
being vetted.”
Dismissing the
insinuation that top military commanders were feeding large on the
entitlements of the rank and file of the armed forces, the military
spokesman argued that the quality of food being provided for the
officers and men at the battlefront are the same.
He claimed that the welfare package for the slain officers and men who die on the battlefield was attractive.
“The
food they (officers and men) eat is within standards and best diet
design as practicable. All eat the same food, be it officers or
soldiers.
“By the way, there are two
levels of insurance covering all soldiers and men involved in the
anti-terror war. There is the Personnels’ Service Arm insurance, the
Defence Headquarters Insurance package which is different from the
gratuity, death benefits and children scholarships. On honour for slain
soldiers, we do give due and befitting burials,” Olukolade said.
According
to him, since Shekau has been killed by the military forces, the Armed
Forces would remain focused by maintaining the tempo of “firepower to
ensure that we sweep them (Boko Haram) off their nuisance hotspots.”
Insisting
that the Defence Headquarters would not concede any portion of Nigeria
to terrorists, Olukolade said the surveillance and air operations were
ongoing with a view to exerting control and ensure minimum collateral
damage.
Olukolade further said that
the Nigerian Armed Forces were better armed, responsive and service
oriented when placed in comparison with their Cameroonian counterparts.
“We
welcome input from allies. It still remains our duty to get best
results for our people. We are exchanging ideas and intelligence.
“We have a Nigerian-led Multinational Joint Task Force particularly on the Lake Chad Basin area. Cameroon is inactive in this.
“Any campaign to suggest that our Army is weaker than Boko Haram, Cameroon’s or any other force is a campaign against Nigeria.
“There is so much eagerness to discredit us and make us bow psychologically. I am working for my country. No denials.
“They are trying to pitch the soldiers against the leadership. Any military that loses leadership is doomed for the nation.
“Officers are paid to manage soldiers. Civilians can’t control them. Anarchy looms if authority loses grip.”
Olukolade added that there was no time frame to putting an end to the insurgency as terrorism is usually a long fight.
He, thereafter, warned the media against what he described as the undermining of structures.
“This
is not the time to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword.
Nigerian media should not undermine structures. We appeal to foreign and
the local press to be circumspect and be consistent with democracy and
public interests.
“We agree that
there is such a need to review its (military) communication mechanism
and we have engaged with various stakeholders to maintain robust
counter-terrorist communications,” he said.
Source: The Punch