Security agencies in the country have vowed that they will not
concede any state of the federation to the Boko Haram Islamic
sect or any other terrorist organisation.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris
Olukolade, made the pledge at a press briefing in Abuja on
Monday. The occasion was organised by the National
Information Centre, chaired by the Director General of the
National Orientation Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri.
Olukolade said, “We are not conceding any part of this country
to any terrorist group. The Nigerian security agencies are active
and will reverse every form of insecurity wherever. It won’t be
stampeded by what is found on the social media.
“The fact remains that we are not conceding any of the state to
terrorists. We are committed to securing Nigeria as mandated by
the constitution and no group will be allowed to raise any flag
in any part of the country. If you see someone hiding a flag
under his bed and you want me to confirm it here; that is not
possible.”
He was responding to a question seeking confirmation on the
reported hoisting of flags and mounting of roadblocks in some
parts of Borno State.
Also speaking at the conference, Omeri warned parents not to
allow their children to be used negatively by any group,
alleging that some #BringBackOurGirls campaigners planned to
use children to mark the 100 days of the abduction of over 200
girls from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, on April
14.
Omeri said, “Information available to us now is that some
groups are now planning to mobilise children from across the
country and within Abuja to commemorate 100 days of the
abduction of Chibok girls.
“While it is the legitimate right of citizens to protest, especially
in democracy that we practise, the President is committed to
ensuring the right of every citizen; we wish to ask parents to be
mindful of this development and not to allow their children to
be used.”
“We want to state that all of us are standing with the parents of
the Chibok girls. There is no need for us to create another round
of catastrophe by leading our children where they ought not to
be. This is holiday period and they should use it wisely.
“We have noted that a number of people have appeared in
solidarity with the government and families of the Chibok girls.
This is commendable and encouraging.
“Some people, however, are misdirecting the campaign by
introducing issues that are inimical to the entire process. We
wish that we will stay with the message; all of us must stay with
the message and canvass for the release of these girls.”
On the alleged detention of former Minister of Education, Mrs.
Oby Ezekwesili, at the airport on her way to Britain, the Deputy
Director of the Department of State Security, Mrs. Marylyn Ogar
said the #BringBackOurGirls campaigner was seeking cheap
popularity.
She said the DSS was only doing its work and had no intention
whatsoever to detain the former minister.
She said, “The government has asked the SSS to be at the airport
and I am wondering where Oby is right now. We don’t have any
such person in our detention facilities. She is already on her
way to the UK.
“Statutorily, the SSS clears all passengers that travel out and
into this country. Until people stop aggregating to themselves
unnecessary importance, we will continue to have serious
security challenges. Security issues must not be trivialised for
any reasons.”
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