Amnesty International’s allegations misleading
Major General Chris Olukolade, Director Defence Information,
in a statement, said “Being an area of operation where terrorists are known to
be ever looking for the slightest opportunity to attack and perpetrate heinous
atrocities, Nigerian troops are
conversant with the need to maintain the highest form of alertness always.
“Every available information is factored into the
intelligence that drives every engagement or encounter in any part of the
mission area. This standard has not only been sustained but has been
incrementally enhanced in terms of capacity, troop’s deployment, coordination,
troop’s mobility and protection as well as logistics.
“Regular patrols, surveillance, pursuit and actual combat
engagement to curtail or forestall terrorists’ activities and threats are also
conducted. This has substantially succeeded in preventing, frustrating or
minimising the effect of terrorists’ dastardly intentions and actions. This
also accounts for why the main intention of terrorists attack on Maiduguri and
other places could not succeed.
“The effort of Amnesty International to use these
unfortunate activities of terrorists to find fault with the counter terrorism
operations as usual, is inaccurate and unfair. In actual fact, the protection of civilian
population is the essence the entire counter terrorism operation. It therefore remains
the priority in all the indeed, the troops were prepared and duly engaged the
terrorists in all the instances referred to by Amnesty International.
“The misleading conclusions by Amnesty International could
have been avoided if they had made meaningful efforts to verify the inciting
allegations. Whatever be the intention, the allegations, at best can only
constitute a distractive and misleading commentary or interpretation of the
terrorists’ activities, the efforts to curb them and the actual situation on
the ground in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian security forces remain willing and capable of
discharging the responsibility of defending the country's territory and people.
Every intrigue aimed at undermining the
nation's capacity to handle its security challenges,” he added.
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