The Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd) has warned Nigerians against collaborating with terrorist groups in all troubled parts of the country, warned that the government will treat both terrorists and their partners the same way when caught.
Musa gave the warning yesterday in an interview with journalists during his visit to Maiduguri, Borno State – the same day the Headquarters of Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace denied claims that troops provided cover for perpetrators of deadly Palm Sunday attacks in Angwan Rukuba community, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, in a state broadcast on Tuesday, confirmed the death toll of 28 from the attack which happened on March 29 around 8:30pm, describing the victims as “law-abiding citizens going about their normal activities when the enemies of peace unleashed this senseless attack at about 7:30pm.”
The JTF, in a statement signed by Media Information Officer, Captain Chinonso Oteh, said the claim made by one of the youth leaders of the community was false and misleading, stressing that it chose to debunk it for the purpose of clarity and the benefit of well meaning Nigerians.
The statement reads, “It is expedient to state unequivocally that at no point did troops provide any form of cover for the terrorists elements who carried out the unfortunate attack that claimed the lives of innocent citizens.
“Rather, troops on receiving a distress call on the unfortunate incident swiftly mobilised to the scene, which was far away from where they were deployed and observed that the attackers had fled.”
“Troops in conjunction with other security agencies have adopted effective strategies to unravel and apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“Troops will continue to deal decisively with criminals while maintaining peace in every part of Plateau State,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the Defence minister, who insisted that terrorists and other similar groups remain enemies of the country and her people, asserted that trading with terrorists is an act of betrayal of the country.
“No one should collaborate with terrorists for whatever reasons. Anyone who trades with terrorists is also an enemy of Nigeria and all of us,” he declared.
He told journalists he was in Maiduguri with the minister of state, Dr Bello Matawalle following the directive of the president to assess the security situation in Borno and meet with military commanders for briefings and review purposes.
The Defence minister earlier while on a visit to the Shehu of Borno, said the visit was to also sympathise with the people of the state following the recent multiple bomb explosions by terrorist bombers.
“The President has directed myself and the Minister of State for Defence to commiserate with you,’ the minister told the Shehu of Borno his royal highness Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El Kanemi,” he disclosed.
Musa assured the people of the state and the North East that the Federal Government and the military will do everything possible to prevent occurrence of such incidents again.
