
The
Defence Headquarters has said it is aware that members of the outlawed Islamist
sect, Boko Haram, are in the habit of looting its armoury.
The
military authorities stated that they were making efforts to secure all armouries
in its various formations across the country.
Director
of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, made the disclosure during
his first real-time Twitter chat which held on Sunday night.
The
army general was, however, not categorical about the grades of weapons just as
he did not name the armouries that have so far been looted by the insurgents.
“We
are taking measures to ensure that our armouries are secured. We agree and are
aware Boko Haram has stolen arms,” Olukolade said while responding to an
inquiry by one of the participants of the Twitter chat.
The
Defence spokesman explained that the military high command frowned on the
proliferation of arms, noting that inter-agency cooperation had recently been
heightened to contain the menace.
According
to Olukolade, the policing of Nigerian borders with other West African
neighbours have been repositioned in view of the security threats posed by the
Boko Haram insurgents.
“Interagency
collaboration has been heightened; from all indications policing of our borders
has increased. Our strategic information-sharing policy considers transparency,
security, propriety and accuracy in reporting to the public,” he added.
Warning
that the military would deal decisively with saboteurs among its officers and
men engaged in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East,
Olukolade said the service chiefs were “monitoring all personnel both in the
frontline and rear”, adding that “suspicious people are being vetted.”
Dismissing
the insinuation that top military commanders were feeding large on the
entitlements of the rank and file of the armed forces, the military spokesman
argued that the quality of food being provided for the officers and men at the
battlefront are the same.
He
claimed that the welfare package for the slain officers and men who die on the
battlefield was attractive.
“The
food they (officers and men) eat is within standards and best diet design as
practicable. All eat the same food, be it officers or soldiers.
“By
the way, there are two levels of insurance covering all soldiers and men
involved in the anti-terror war. There is the Personnels’ Service Arm
insurance, the Defence Headquarters Insurance package which is different from
the gratuity, death benefits and children scholarships. On honour for slain
soldiers, we do give due and befitting burials,” Olukolade said.
According
to him, since Shekau has been killed by the military forces, the Armed Forces
would remain focused by maintaining the tempo of “firepower to ensure that we
sweep them (Boko Haram) off their nuisance hotspots.”
Olukolade
further said that the Nigerian Armed Forces were better armed, responsive and
service oriented when placed in comparison with their Cameroonian counterparts.
“We
welcome input from allies. It still remains our duty to get best results for
our people. We are exchanging ideas and intelligence.
“We
have a Nigerian-led Multinational Joint Task Force particularly on the Lake
Chad Basin area. Cameroon is inactive in this.
“Any
campaign to suggest that our Army is weaker than Boko Haram, Cameroon’s or any
other force is a campaign against Nigeria.
“There
is so much eagerness to discredit us and make us bow psychologically. I am
working for my country. No denials.
“They
are trying to pitch the soldiers against the leadership. Any military that
loses leadership is doomed for the nation.
“Officers
are paid to manage soldiers. Civilians can’t control them. Anarchy looms if
authority loses grip.”
Olukolade
added that there was no time frame to putting an end to the insurgency as
terrorism is usually a long fight.
He,
thereafter, warned the media against what he described as the undermining of
structures.
“This
is not the time to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword. Nigerian
media should not undermine structures. We appeal to foreign and the local press
to be circumspect and be consistent with democracy and public interests.
“We
agree that there is such a need to review its (military) communication
mechanism and we have engaged with various stakeholders to maintain robust
counter-terrorist communications,” he said.
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