The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims that suspected terrorists are setting up camps around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, made this known today during the Ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that apex Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, had yesterday alleged that terrorists had started setting up camps around the FCT and Niger State, calling for immediate action.
However, reacting to the alarm, General Irabor said it is false and should be discountenanced.
He pointed out that many people pushing out information do so to “fly agenda kites” adding that if there was anything like being claimed by those raising the alarm, the military would know.
Reacting to alleged military brutality in the Southeast, Irabor said that the perception of discriminatory military engagement against the people of the region was not correct.
Responding to a question on why the military chose to scale operations up in the Southeast while bandits in the Northwest and Northcentral were considered for negotiations and repentant terrorists in the Northeast are being rehabilitated, the Defense Chief noted that insecurity varies from region to region.
According to him, “what you find in the southeast is different from what is obtainable in the north”.
On Sheikh Ahmad Gumi engagement with bandits in the north, he said the Muslim cleric does not work for the military.
He explained the military would not prevent anyone from playing his or her part in the fight against insecurity.
However what is not acceptable to the military, he said, is when such persons work at cross purposes with security agencies’ objectives.
