Army Says No Cause For Alarm Over Militants’ Threat To Test Missiles

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is not moved by the threat by the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force (JNDLF) to launch six missiles in the Niger Delta, the Defence Acting Director of Information, Brig-Gen. Rabe Abubakar said yesterday.

The group had said during the week that it would commence the testing of its six missiles on June 7 and the testing would last for three days, warning that no airplanes should fly in and out of the country within the period.

However, Abubakar said the military would not be deterred at all by the threat and would rather remain focused on protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

“This is no threat at all. The Nigerian military will remain focused and un-intimidated and will not be deterred by such threats,” he told The Nation.

“We will respond at the appropriate time. The whole world is seeing what they are doing and these are criminals and unpatriotic elements, and we will treat them as such.

“We are being systematic and professional in dealing with this and any other threats not only in Niger Delta but any other area.”

He urged law abiding citizens to “go about their legitimate businesses unhindered and cooperate with security agencies in containing and bringing these criminals to their knees.”

“We must ensure one nation and one destiny under one God. All our operations are not to harass, intimidate and traumatise any innocent people,” he said.

He urged the militants to remember that no non-state actor ever succeeds over state actor.

“Let the so called militants go to history books and find out.”