*Says days people glamorize terrorists, criminals over
“Therefore, we wish to solicit for more support, cooperation and understanding of the public, particularly members of the Press. We should not give in to terrorists propaganda and empty threats. We have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that require more patriotism and security consciousness by all and sundry. Gone were the days when people glamorize terrorists and their criminal acts,” The Army statement said.
The Nigerian Army on Saturday said threats issued by recently released Boko Haram members in a video clip distributed by the group is just propaganda and should be ignored.
A statement by Army spokesman Brigadier General Sani Usman said the attention of Nigerian Army had been drawn to two video clips released by one of the released Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the abducted Chibok school girls.
He said: “in the first clip the terrorist, among other things, made boastful and spurious allegations, while the second clip was about alleged indoctrination of some of the abducted Chibok school girls in captivity.”
He added that: “We wish to state that the terrorist has lost touch with current realities. It was aimed at seeking relevance and attention.”
“As you are all aware, he was a direct beneficiary of the process that led to the release of 82 of the abducted girls, and does not have a say or capacity to do anything, therefore his threats should be ignored,” Usman said.
He further said: “We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army is totally committed to the Federal Government’s determined efforts of rescuing all abducted persons and peace in the country.”
He said the Army would not relent in its efforts of clearing the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists through the ongoing clearance operations, adding that the Nigerian Air Force was unrelenting in its bombardment while other security agencies are equally doing their best.
He said: “Therefore, we wish to solicit for more support, cooperation and understanding of the public, particularly members of the Press.”
“We should not give in to terrorists propaganda and empty threats. We have come to a very critical stage of the fight against terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria that require more patriotism and security consciousness by all and sundry.
“Gone were the days when people glamorize terrorists and their criminal acts,” The Army statement said.
“It is the publicity that our media give to these criminals through the youtube and by extension on the pages of the print and online media that is making them look like anything. Just look at somebody who is just a beneficiary of a swap programme immediately after his release going to issue a video clip talking about something he has lost track of, for a long time. I think the swap should have crippled the swapped Boko Haram members from being able to do such a thing. Media report of terrorist videos at this time is inimical to the progress being made by our military,” the respondent warned.
In the meantime, a respondent of The DEFENDER has called on members of the Nigerian press to support the war against terrorism of any form, “Boko Haram, Niger Delta militancy, cultism in the South West” adding that, “It is the publicity that our press give to these criminals through the youtube and by extension on the pages of the print and online media that is making them look like anything. Just look at somebody who is just a beneficiary of a swap programme immediately after his release going to issue a video clip talking about something he has lost track of, for a long time. I think the swap should have crippled the swapped Boko Haram members from being able to do such a thing. Media report of terrorist videos at this time is inimical to the progress being made by our military,” the warned.
