The Head of Information Unit,
Defence Headquarters, Major-
General Chris Olukolade, says troops
are ensuring the protection of the
entire Damaturu community with
the active involvement of the
Nigerian Air Force.
This comes after a Monday morning
attack believed to have been carried
out by members of the Boko Haram
terrorist group in Damaturu, the
Yobe State capital had left three
civilians dead.
Olukolade was speaking about the
attack and other recent attacks
during a telephone conversation on
Channels Television breakfast
programme, Sunrise Daily.
According to him, a group of
terrorists attacked Damaturu "from
various angles and with all kinds of
weapons and tanks but eventually
they were forcibly repelled" and
pursuit is still on to ensure that a
number of them are apprehended.
"Also in Maiduguri, the arrangement
to firm up security for the area is
on… and the whole operation will
continue.
"The important thing is that its
enjoying the support and
understanding of the
communities around," he said.
Olukolade explained that the
civilian communities have been
supportive of the military
operations because of the
mutual understanding they
have of the mission to rid the
state of terror.
He, however, called for a higher
level of cooperation from them,
especially on the back of reports
that the insurgents usually mingle
with the people, thereby making it
difficult for the Army to fish out the
criminals.
He urged the people to be brave
enough to help the military identify
the "bad guys" among them as
these would go a long way in
helping the fight against
insurgency.
The protection of the people that
give information to the military was,
however, brought to the fore and
the General, while giving the
assurance that the military would
not take this for granted, added that
so far there had been no incident to
prove otherwise.
He also advised that citizens should
be on the lookout for groups of
people moving into their
communities and alert the military
as there are proofs that the
communities are more easily
attacked by disguised insurgents
from within.
"As much as possible we are getting
what we require for our mission and
the Government will keep trying to
ensure that the military is duly
equipped" he said, while asking not
to be drawn into the politics of
military motivation and how well
equipped they are.
He also refused to comment on the
reported withdrawal of the Nigerian
military from a training which was
supposed to have been carried out
in conjunction with U.S forces.
Posted By David Aniemeka
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