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Tag: Col. Rabe Abubakar

  • Borno: Boko Haram poisoned water – Military

    Borno: Boko Haram poisoned water – Military

    The Nigerian Military has confirmed that Boko Haram terrorists poisoned sources of drinking water in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    It, however, said that no human lives have been lost, though there were animal casualties.

    Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, stated these during an interactive session with defence Correspondents in Lagos.

    He said adequate awareness and sensitization of the people on the menace saved lives, adding that the relevant agencies will take the necessary steps to address it.

    He said poisoning of sources of drinking water was an exhibition of weakness and desperation by the terrorists.

    He said: “The alarm is true. Relevant agencies will act on it. Ours is to provide security.

    “This brings me to the issue of weakness. They are weak. Since they have been dislodged from their strongholds, they are engaging in all sorts of practice.

    “Since the factories where they produce IEDs have been discovered and their commands decimated, what they do now is to go into other areas.

    “No human lives have been lost but some animals suffered from it.

    “Terrorists are using other methods to inflict hardship on citizens in areas they have been uprooted.

    “We are calling on the citizens to know this and report unusual movement by giving us information.

    “The media also, has to create the awareness against this kind of menace so that people will know.”

     

  • Boko Haram’s end imminent – DHQ

    Boko Haram’s end imminent – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters has announced the imminent end of the Boko Haram insurgency, saying the reign of the sect would soon be a thing of the past.

    The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, reportedly gave the assurance when a group of journalists visited him in his Abuja office on Monday.

    A statement issued by Lieutenant Commander Olabisi Way, restated a renewed commitment of the leadership of the Armed Forces and determination on the part of the troops in the counter insurgency operations.

    The DHQ eulogized what it described as the heart-warming success of the coordination between the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Army in the ongoing campaign.

    “Troops have uprooted the Boko Haram insurgents from their strongholds, including their several camps in the Sambisa forest,” the statement added.

    Col. Abubakar, according to the statement, described carrying of firearms by any citizen against his country, under whatever guise, as unpatriotic act.

    He called on unrepentant members of Boko Haram to have a rethink, lay down their arms and abandon their strange and uncivilized ideology for betterment of mankind.

    The Defence spokesman was also said to have used the occasion to commend the troops for their ever-ready posture to tackle head-on all forms of criminality being perpetrated by the terrorists.

    He attributed the feat recorded so far to motivation and injection of right arsenal in the prosecution of the battle against insurgency.

     

     

  • Troops not involved in torture in North-East, says DHQ

    Troops not involved in torture in North-East, says DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters yesterday dismissed as untrue claims by Amnesty International (AI) about the involvement of soldiers in torture or any violation of human rights in the North-East.

    It also said it has reorganised the Special Task Force operating in Plateau State, North-Central Region.

    The DHQ made the clarification in a statement by the Acting Director Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar.

    He said the allegations “have been convincingly refuted and proven to be an orchestrated conspiracy against the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

    The Nigerian military, he declared,  “is a professional organization with track records of achievements in peacekeeping operations and therefore shares no comparison with rag-tag band of terrorists whatsoever.

    “The military is constitutionally empowered to secure Nigeria from any form of insecurity.

    “It is therefore unfair for Amnesty International and any other group to accuse the Nigerian military of human rights abuse based on cropped images used by the country’s enemies and detractors to achieve their purpose.

    “The Nigerian military under the new dawn will never humiliate or harass any law-abiding citizen, and would remain focused to end terrorism soon.”

    In a separate statement, the DHQ said: “In the new arrangement, the erstwhile internal security outfit known as Special Task Force (STF) is now designated “Operation Safe Haven”.

    “The arrangement is in line with the mission and vision of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin.

    “The reform is geared towards giving the security operation in the state more bite for better performance.

    “With this vigour and determination, it is hoped that the incessant killings in the area as a result of ethnic clashes would be contained by the troops of the reinvigorated Operation Safe Haven in line with its Rules of Engagement.”

    It assured innocent citizens of protection of their lives and property, and urged the communities to live in peace and report any case inimical to the breaking down of law and order to the security agencies for prompt action as nobody is above the law.

  • Troops will soon neutralize Boko Haram – DHQ

    Despite the increasing suicide bombings in the Northeast, the Defence Headquarters on Wednesday said troops will soon neutralize the Boko Haram insurgents.

    It also said the insurgents were already in disarray and opted to wreak havoc while fleeing from their camps.

    The DHQ gave the assurance in a statement issued by the Acting Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar.

    The statement said: “The Defence Headquarters has condemned in its entirety the spate of suicide attacks in the Northeast where scores of innocent lives are lost on regular basis. The latest being the suicide bombing at Sabon Gari market in Borno State.

    “Those perpetrating these heinous crimes are callous, barbaric and monsters whose activities will soon become a thing of the past.

    “The military is intensifying efforts to continue to break the bones of the terrorists and wish to re-state and reassure Nigerians that it is not relenting in its efforts to rid the country of terrorism and any act of criminalities.

    “Every step is being taken to neutralize the capability of terrorists whose activities still continue to constitute danger to civil populace as they are in disarray while running away from their former safe haven and no longer capable of confronting the troops.

    “Defence Headquarters is therefore appealing to the general public to be extra vigilant and be wary of strange faces and objects in their localities.

    “Asymmetric warfare calls for collective effort of both the general public and the security agencies in information gathering and sharing.

    “The public is advised to always give timely information to the security agencies in order to avert the re-occurrence of the ugly incidence.”