Sit-at- home Order by IPOB mere Propaganda -DHQ
…two for Court Martial
The Nigeria Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reacted to the Sit-at-home order by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) slated for May 30 ,2024 as a mere propaganda and would not stand.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba disclosed this Thursday at the Biweekly media briefing with Defence Correspondents in Abuja.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had on Wednesday declared May 30 ,2024 a sit-at-home to honour its Biafran warlords who sacrificed their lives in the Civil war via a statement.
According to a statement by the spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, the annual sit-at-home event expects all Igbo both in Nigeria and diaspora to celebrate the fallen heroes by staying in their homes and praying for their souls.
As usual, the group has ordered all businesses premises, schools,markets, motor parks and other public places to be shutdown for just that day.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has formally admitted errors in the drone strikes on Tudun Biri community in Kaduna State, which killed scores of innocent citizens.
Major General Buba, who also disclosed this said investigations have been concluded and the strikes considered a mistaken identity.
The drone strikes took place on December 3, 2023, killing several non-combatants in Tudun Biri village of Igabi local government area of Kaduna State.
Buba said those involved were going to face military court martial.
Meanwhile Buba disclosed that troops have decimated over 715 terrorist, arrested 146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages in the last two weeks.
He said the terrorists were killed during a synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces last month.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #2 bn (N2,572,397,190.00) only.”
Buba further said troops are simultaneously fighting in various theatres across the country to deal with the various threat therein. “The aim is clear, and it is to find and destroy the terrorist and their cohorts whenever they maybe hiding in order to ensure their enduring defeat. The defeat of these terrorist group is non negotiable as it would deny them to terrorize or hurt citizens of this country.
“Troops conducted offensive operations during the month ranging ambushes, raids, fighting patrols and other covert operations. Tactically, whenever there is a clash between troops and terrorist on the ground. Troops clearing win in the fire fight, though sadly in certain operations casualties are sustained . However, each and every engagement ends with troops victory, with several dead or surrendered terrorist in every location.
“Similarly , air assets conducted aggressive air flights during the period under review. Upon confirmation of terrorist presence and the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. The targets are acquired and fighter jets scrambled to carry out major bombarding raids on significant terrorist enclave.
“The terrorist leaders enclaves engaged include that of terrorist Nasanda and his loyalist in Zurmi LGA of Katsina State. Also, on 13 April 2024, 3 Senior terrorist commanders (Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah and Mallam Ari) were neutralized at Kolleram Village along Lake Chad.
“Additionally, on 15 April 2024, the enclave of terrorist commander Babaru in Kankara LGA of Katsina State was destroyed. Similarly, on 19 Apr 24, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander Kamilu Buzaru’s in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was decimated. Then, On 20 April 2024, the gathering of senior terrorist commander Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru’s in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was disrupted by air strikes. Several terrorist combatants and the Commanders were neutralized in the air strikes.
“Other terrorist Commanders engaged by air strikes include that of Mallam Yadee at Mariga LGA of Niger State. Then, the Enclave of Abdullahi Nasanda and Mallam Tukur in Zurmi and Gusau LGAs of Zamfara State. Thereafter, is the Enclave of Mallam Umar and several other commanders located in the Alawa Forest area of Niger State. Furthermore is Bello Turji’s Camp in Kagara Forest located between Shinkafi in Zamfara and Isa LGA in Sokoto. All the surviving terrorist Commanders and leaders are walking corpses as we would get them, sooner than later.
Overall, Buba said the armed forces is building and maintaining the momentum against the terrorist and their cohorts across the country, adding that troops are conscious and are not loosing sight of importance of momentum, when it comes to fighting such vicious adversaries.
“The current situation depict a a strain of tactical achievements in degrading the terrorist by dismantling most of the terrorist infrastructure in the NE, killing majority of the combatants, killing a lot of their senior combatants. It must be noted that, many of the terrorist commanders as well have been taken off the battlefield.
