Nigerian Army Chief Laments That Some ‘Repentant’ Terrorists Have Ulterior Motives

The Nigerian Army has said though thousands of terrorists and their families have laid down arms in the North-East, some of them have ulterior motives. 

The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed that 20,000 insurgents and their families had laid down their weapons but some of the ‘repentant’ terrorists are not sincere. 

The commander, who spoke on the sidelines of the Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja, added that another challenge the military has is that the insurgents use civilians as cover, making it more difficult for soldiers to kill them, the Nation reports. 

He said: “We have over 20,000 combatants and their families surrendered. This tells you there is something we are doing right. What we do with them after surrendering is our next focus. The expectation is that after all have surrendered, then, everything will fizzle out. But, that is not the case.

“Frankly speaking, for us, this is a good development. A lot of people have been thinking and also expressing mixed feelings if at all the news is true. Of course, there are some insurgents who truly wish to surrender, but we cannot jettison the fact that some of them do have ulterior motives.

“Like I said, to us, this is good and if we follow it through in the right way, then, we may begin to see the end of this insurgency sooner than we actually think.”

According to Maj-Gen. Musa, the terror group has remained dangerous despite the death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau.

He said: “Before Shekau died, they (Boko Haram fighters) pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in the West African Province ISWAP and ISWAP gets its funding from foreign donors. It is the lust for these monies that have further emboldened them. This is why they overran Shekau. These people who are enemies of the nation, who do not want peace in Nigeria are the same people pushing ISWAP too. It has nothing to do with religion or any form of ideology, but is purely driven by the quest for money.

Dismissing public concerns that the Nigerian military has been outstretched by the security challenges in the country, he said, “No group can outstretch the Armed Forces of Nigeria. What people need to understand is, we in the military can easily be identified because we put on uniforms. These guys go on mufti and we cannot just go into a community and start killing everybody. If we have to do this, then, this fight would have ended since.

“But, what about the collateral damage on the part of innocent civilians? If we have to shoot, then, we must target the real trouble makers and not just anyone. This is the problem. They mingle among civilians. This is why it has become so dificult. If it is conventional warfare, we would have finished them a long time ago.”

[Saharareporters]

Many feared dead as gunmen attack Imo community again

Barely 48 hours after Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma cried to President Muhammadu Buhari for help, over the security situation in the state, gunmen have again attacked another community in the state, killing some  persons and injuring others.

Many  residents  at the attacked community, Etekwuru community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, yesterday, began to leave the community in their numbers as armed men in motorcycle convoy invaded the community and allegedly killed many and damaged houses.  Vanguard gathered from the Etekwuru community  that villagers have abandoned their homes and fled into the bush as a result of the attacks.

The traditional ruler of the Etekwuru community, Eze Kenneth Okereke, confirmed the attack and said he was at the Police station regarding the incident but promised he would give the details of the attack  later.

“Yes, my community was attacked by gunmen and I will speak on  it  later. I am at the police station for now,” he said.

An eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard said he  could not give the  reason for the attack but said the attackers were demanding that the villagers should vacate. 

He said: “They were shooting everywhere as they entered different sections of the village. We cannot have the exact number of people dead or injured or the number of houses damaged. 

“As you go  you  will see  some people lying down and many houses destroyed. Tomorrow,  we will know the extent of the damage and the number of deaths. 

“We will also know the number of the houses destroyed. As I am talking to you, many people have  fled  the village  into the bush and they sleep there. I don’t think they will come back for now.”

Another witness,Apostle Don Elem linked the incident to the level of insecurity in the community and called on the relevant government and security agencies to ensure that there is the security of lives and properties in the communities. 

It should be recalled Imo oil communities have been under attacks by unknown gunmen for the past few months causing tension and loss of lives. 

When the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, was contacted he confirmed the attack adding that the command has commenced investigation into what happened.

A source in Imo State government said:  “Top government officials are meeting in the Government House with security agencies to unravel the root cause of the continued insecurity situation especially in the oil communities of the state after the meeting decisions will be taken.”

[Vanguard]