The Defence Headquarters has labeled the recent Yoruba Nation agitation as laughable.
Additionally, there are concerns that terrorists and their sympathizers are attempting to discredit the military in response to its successful operations against insurgents.
Recently, Yoruba Nation agitators, dressed in military camouflage, stormed the Oyo State secretariat and attempted to seize the State House of Assembly. They clashed with security forces and were overpowered, resulting in the arrest of 29 individuals.
These suspects were arraigned on Wednesday before an Oyo State Magistrates’ Court in Iyaganku. They face seven charges, including treasonable felony, membership in an unlawful society, illegal possession of firearms, and behavior likely to breach the peace.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the Director, of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the agitation has further pointed out how the insecurity ravaging many parts of the country is self-inflicted.
He said, “The agitation of IPOB in the South East has proven to be for self-aggrandizement. Then, the call for a Yoruba Nation is laughable. All these buttress how our security situation is self-inflicted in the country. ”
He said bearing firearms against a constituted government is a serious offence, warning that anyone who does that would be severely dealt with.
Reeling out the success of the military in the last week, Buba said the troops killed 192 terrorists and arrested 341 suspects.
He said, “During the period under review, troops neutralised 192 terrorists and arrested 341 persons while rescuing 62 kidnapped hostages.
A total of 122 ISWAP/JAS combatant terrorists surrendered with their family members. ”
Buba added that the troops also arrested 37 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen crude oil worth N821m.
” Furthermore, troops recovered 211 assorted weapons and 6,288 assorted ammunition. The breakdown is as follows: 128 AK47 rifles, 26 Dane guns among other items. Others are 1,301 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 3,260 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,325 live cartridges, 140 rounds of 9mm ammo among other items, “he added.
He, however, raised the alarm that terrorists and their sympathisers were planning to blackmail the military following the onslaught on the insurgents.
Buba said, “It therefore should not be surprising, that these terrorist and their sympathisers plot to blackmail the military as a result of these airstrikes. The plot is to depict some casualties as innocent citizens rather than cohorts of this terrorist. It is therefore important for the media to be wary of the antics of these terrorist groups and their sympathisers. Our operations have prevented these evil elements from accomplishing their strategic objectives.”