The Nigerian military command has thrown down the gauntlet to former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, daring him to come to the battlefield and witness the full force of their might. This bold challenge follows Dokubo's audacious claim that he could shoot down a military helicopter that had been hovering around his residence.
Responding swiftly to Dokubo’s remarks, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, issued a statement on Thursday, dismissing the former militant's boast as laughable and inviting him to test his strength against the Nigerian Armed Forces. According to Buba, if Dokubo were to take up arms and enter the battlefield, he would be swiftly neutralized.
Buba remarked, “Now, to comment that he can shoot down military helicopters is laughable, and I am tempted to laugh about that. We are in a democracy, and we are professional; we cannot simply act on someone’s comments without due consideration, lest we be accused of being undemocratic.”
The military spokesperson emphasized that while Dokubo's comments were provocative, the military operates under strict professionalism and would not be drawn into reckless engagements based on mere threats. However, he did not mince words in daring the ex-militant to test the might of the Nigerian military on the battlefield. "Our mandate is to confront him on the battlefield and take him out. He should come to the battlefield and see whether we can react or not," Buba declared.
He further stressed that the Nigerian military’s focus remains on eliminating terrorists, particularly in the country’s troubled regions. "Our enemy is the terrorists," Buba stated, noting that whether they are labeled as bandits or insurgents, the military views all violent elements threatening Nigeria’s security as terrorists.
In the past three quarters alone, Buba revealed that over 300 terrorist commanders have been eliminated, with significant progress made in diminishing the insurgents' fighting capabilities. He also highlighted the large cache of weapons and ammunition recovered in recent operations, further demonstrating the military’s effectiveness in the battle against terror.
Buba concluded by reiterating that other security agencies may take up Dokubo's case, but if the former militant leader steps onto the battlefield, he will face the full wrath of the Nigerian military. “He does not possess that capability,” Buba added, daring Dokubo to put his words to the test.
