The Nigerian military has issued a strong response to former militant leader Asari Dokubo, challenging him to witness the military's capabilities firsthand on the battlefield.
This follows Dokubo’s claim that he could shoot down a military helicopter flying near his residence and his assertion that he has the power to contain the Nigerian military.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 10, by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the military dismissed Dokubo's claims, calling them "laughable" and daring him to face them in combat.
“Now, to comment that he can shoot down military helicopters is laughable, and I am tempted to laugh about that,” said Maj. Gen. Buba. “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.”
He further emphasized that Dokubo would be neutralized if he entered the battlefield, and urged the relevant security agencies to handle the situation. “I assure you that he does not possess that capability, but I will leave it to the appropriate security forces to handle the matter. 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 added.
The military’s primary focus, according to Buba, remains on combating terrorists across various operational regions in Nigeria. He clarified the classification of insurgents, stating, “Our enemy is the terrorists. While some may choose to label them differently depending on the region, in the northwest and northeast, some refer to them as bandits. I tell you, they are all terrorists. We must label them for what they are.”
Buba also highlighted the military's ongoing efforts against terrorism, revealing that over 300 terrorist commanders have been eliminated in the past three quarters. “Our aim is to diminish their fighting capabilities and to damage their military potential, which we have been achieving,” he said.
He underscored the military's progress, noting the large quantity of weapons and ammunition recovered during operations, further bolstering their fight against insurgency across the country.