Following uproar over the recent airstrike on two communities in Sokoto recently, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has said it was not only precise but also justified.
This was even as the CDS warned villagers against harbouring terrorists under whatever guise, adding, they don’t mean well for the country and must not be allowed to distablise the nation.
Speaking at the 8 Division, Nigeria Army Barracks, Sokoto Thursday at a lunch with troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA, the CDS reassured that troops will intensify attacks on enemies of the country until they are completely routed out and defeated.
”From now and entering 2025 we are going to give in more. We are going to sacrifice more. We are going to attack more. We will not allow any criminal, whether terrorists, insurgents, bandits, armed robbers, sea pirates or whoever to distablise the country. Anybody who crosses the line must face the music”, the CDS warned.
While appreciating troops for their continued sacrifices, the CDS said, the recent deployment of the Special Operations Brigade and some combat enablers have aided in eliminating and dislodging the emerging Lakuawa terrorists from their camps in Sokoto and kebbi states.
He further assured that the Armed Forces under his leadership will continue to sustain its operational temple and posture across the military deployments, both home and abroad.
To the troops the CDS said, ”Looking ahead, I urge you all to remain steadfast and resolute in your responsibilities. The coming year presents us with an opportunity to make significant progress in overcoming the challenges confronting our dear nation
”And I want to count on all of us that we are going to make sure we are steadfast in our approach. We are going to be very robust in our operations.
”We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he has approved a lot of enablers for us to perform our tasks. We will not relent, and all those supporting enemies ot the country should be ready. We’ve already started our operations. We’re going to commence and we’re going to intensify our operations. We want to ensure that nobody is allowed to take any Nigerian hostage wherever he is in the country. It is our duty and our task to ensure that every Nigerian is free to perform his duty freely.
“‘Together, we must strive to ensure that the year 2025, is marked by transformative victories in all our operational theaters. Nigerians are all praying for us. Nigerians are all happy with what we are doing, and we need to do more.
“”We will secure the sovereignty of Nigeria and make sure that no elements, no criminal, is allowed to move freely within our territory. I also want to use this to also extend to our message to our neighbors, Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Togo to assure them that Nigeria will not allow anybody, any criminal element, to use its soil to attack any of our neighboring countries, because we are one and the same””.
The CDS also clarifies that, the nation will not allow the establishment of any foreign base as they security agencies have the capacity and capability to tackle its challenges.
“‘The only thing we can do is we can train together, and that is it. We send our officers and soldiers training abroad. They equally, send their own to come here for training. They can come here and we do joint exercises but no foreign base will be allowed in Nigeria””.
Talking on the recent incident in Sokoto, the CDS warned against allowing foreign body to come and remain with them in whatever form.
“‘Most times they want to use religion or tribe or use sentiments and tell you they are together with you, they don’t mean well for you. like we are seeing with the Lacurawas they came in and gave the impression that they are friends, and now they have turned and have shown their true colours. We are flushing all of them out and to all Nigerians, all innocent citizens, please do not, for any reason, support them. Give them logistics, give them food, give them money or anywhere to stay within your communities, there’s the adage that a friend of a thief is a thief.
”Anybody who allows them to stay within him is a legitimate target. I want to make that very clear. We, are passionate as we always to defend the human right of every citizen, but anybody who allows himself to be used against Nigerians, we are going to go after him”‘.
“‘So I want to call on any community that is living together with those people, please drive them away or evacuate and leave them, because we are coming after them. We will not spare anybody who turns himself into rat as the cat will always go him”‘, the CDS assured.
Earlier, the General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation FASAN YAMMA Major General Ibikunle Ajose has expressed satisfaction with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the CDS and the troops, saying they are committed to ensuring a safe country at all times.