The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has warned that attacks on and killing of military men by civilians are demoralizing to soldiers in war front against terrorists, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said on Thursday.
Director of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General Edward Buba, who issued a stern warning against such attacks, said that such hostilities must stop.
Citing the killing of soldiers in Okuama community in Delta State and the recent mob attack on military personnel at Banex Plaza, Abuja, General Buba said such attacks on soldiers amount to sabotage.
The Defence Operations Spokesperson, who briefed journalists on the operations of the AFN in the month of May, 2024, disclosed that troops killed 624 terrorists in the various theatres of operations across the country.
He then called on civilians to support the soldiers to eliminate terrorism in the country.
According to General Buba: “The unprovoked killings of 17 personnel in Okuama in Delta State, coupled with the recent assault of unarmed personnel in Banex Plaza in Abuja is worrisome and leaves much to be desired.
“These occurrences are unhealthy for our national security, counter productive and amount to self sabotage.
“Surely, it is no way to treat any human, certainly not a military personnel that places self in harms way to protect citizens or to safeguard the nation.
“The military has demonstrated high sense of discipline and professionalism in the face of the untoward attacks. Our professionalism must not be mistaken for weakness.
“Indeed, we know that to win this war, we needs the support of people. We also hope that the people would equally realize that, they need the military to win the war to guarantee their safety.
“The joint operational environment coupled the synergy with other security and intelligence agencies greatly assisted in the optimal performance of troops in the conduct of operations.
“Accordingly, It goes is without saying that this must not repeat itself as it jeopardizes our common interest.
“If troops err, report them and the military justice system will address the matter. We are at war, and citizens must realize that they also have a responsibility by their actions and utterances to support troops to keep the morale and fighting spirit of troops at optimal at all times.
“Doing otherwise is unpatriotic and amounts to self sabotage. Overall, we would continue to fight until the terrorists is defeated on the battlefield and help our nation flourish again. These occurrences are unhealthy for our national security, counter productive and amount to self sabotage.”
On the fight against terrorists, he disclosed that “during the month of May, the potency of the terrorists was largely degraded with 624 Terrorist neutralized, 1,051 terrorists including their logistic suppliers and informants arrested, while 563 hostages were rescued.
“Additionally, troops recovered troops recovered 707 assorted weapons, 16,487 assorted ammunitions and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over #700 Mill (N705,836,036.00) only.
“Troops are admirably making progress in the ongoing counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations across the country and will continue until the terrorist are completely decimated.
“The progress made is through the cumulative effort of killing the terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants,as well as, taking away their most important assets such as logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities,” General Buba added.