State of Emergency: Monitoring ongoing to avert violations – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters said in Abuja on Monday that there was constant monitoring to ensure that there was no violation in the operations in the state of emergency.
The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, made the statement at a Joint Security Committee briefing.
Olukolade said that where there was any case of violation, the DHQ would instantly investigate and punish perpetrators.
He said: “The forces in this operation are quite conversant with the rules of engagement.
“Constant monitoring is ongoing to ensure there is no violation and where there is, to instantly investigate and punish the perpetrators.
“Nigerians and our friends abroad must realise that the security operations were necessitated by the need to secure and restore the rights of Nigerian citizens who were being abused by the activities of terrorists.
“The terrorists have not only violated Nigeria’s sovereignty, they have committed mindless atrocities against citizens and there is no way such abuse, lawlessness and hate ideology could be encouraged or allowed to continue.”
Olukolade said that while the forces would remain accountable, the prying eyes of various activists should equally focus on the unending and condemnable atrocities of terrorists.
He added: “The misinformation in terms of reporting human rights issues has been enormous and more mischievous than real.
“There is more attempt to screen terrorists from justice by indicting the process of apprehending and presenting them for justice.
“The attempt to set subjective standards in rating compliance with human rights here is unfair and should be condemned.
“Our citizens should beware of running errands for those whose motives on our nation’s integrity and security remain suspect.”
According to him, the forces are not on any revenge mission but purely on a mission to restore law and order.
Olukolade explained that notwithstanding the sporadic asymmetric attacks on certain soft targets, there was a drastic reduction in bombings and attacks on places outside the North East epicentre of the terrorists.
He said the improved security situation as indicated in the general assessment had resulted in the ongoing phased restoration of telecommunication services in the states, which had to be withdrawn at the beginning of operation.
He said: “Hence, Adamawa State now has telecommunication services fully restored.
“Apart from the ongoing operations in the North East, there are other joint operations by the security agencies in other parts of the country.
These include the efforts to check the activities of oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.
The spokespersons for the Navy, Air Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Police and a representative of the Nigerian Army spokesperson were present at the briefing.