The Defence Headquarters(DHQ) has dismissed the listing of Nigeria by Global Terrorism(GTI) Index as the sixth country most-affected by terrorism in the world.
It said there was no how the March 5 report by a group (GTI) which it indirectly described as an ‘outsider’ would be more reliable than the Nigerian accounts on counter-terrorism efforts in the country.
The DHQ consequently advised the public, especially the media, to ignore the report which in the same breath it said was not being countered.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye spoke on the report while fielding questions from reporters in Abuja yesterday.
Also in Abuja, the Federal Government officially designated Simon Ekpa and 15 other Nigerians as terror financiers. It also declared the Lakurawa sect as a terrorist organisation and financier.
Four months ago, the military confirmed the re-emergence of Lukarawa in the country after it was first dislodged in 2020.
The presence of the group which is affiliated with terrorists in the Sahel, particularly Mali and Niger republics, became a major source of concern after it killed east 15 people in Kebbi State.
Nine of its members were declared wanted by the DHQ.
Kangye, in the chat with reporters, tried to justify DHQ’s position on the report by using a metaphorical family.
He said the information released by the head of the family, which he likened to the DHQ, is usually more correct than that of an outsider.
His words: “Something is happening in my house. I’m the head of the house. I have children, I have a wife and someone else is reporting what is happening in my house to me.
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‘’Which one would be more correct or believable? The one that I will tell you as the head of the house or the one that someone is reporting from outside?
‘’The one I think that will give you the correct information is that of the head of the house.
“So you, as a member of the media, that has been attending this meeting every week, you should be able to stand and correct what they are giving Nigerians.
“I’m not countering what they put out there, but as observers, I think you should be the better person that will give the correct version of what is happening in Nigeria.”
On sit-at-home order in the Southeast, the Defence spokesman restated that security agencies were working hard to free the region from Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) and Eastern Security Network(ESN) fighters.
He said: “Who gave the order? IPOB /ESN criminals and because of what is happening in the Southeast Operation Udo Ka was set up just like Hadin Kai in Northeast .
“ The locals in some areas, for fear of being attacked, fear of being killed opt to stay at home.
“Our commanders under Operation Udo Ka are doing their best. They are doing so well to ensure that Southeast is freed from the IPOB/ESN. “
Fed. Govt dubs Ekpa, others terror sponsors; Lakurawa terror group
A Biafran agitator Ekpa, 15 other Nigerians and the Lakurawa sect were classified as terror financiers following a recommendation by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), an independent body led by the Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi(SAN).
Godstime Iyare, Chukwuekwu Iyare, Helen Ugbomor Iyare, Francis Mmadubuchi, John Onwumere, Chikwuka Eze, Edwin Chukwuedo and Chiwendu Owoh are among those listed.