DHQ spokesman said: “We have what we call elements of national power, and talking about elements of national power you have natural and social elements and these elements can be deployed separately or combined to achieve the national objectives.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The military approach deployed in the rescue of the 23 remaining Abuja-Kaduna train passengers was non-kinetic, according to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) during a media parley.
By non-kinetic, the hostages were rescued using means other than combat.
Although the details were sketchy, the military says the operation was coordinated by a high-powered committee.
Giving further details, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said elements of national power were deployed to rescue the remaining 23 hostages abducted on March 28. Akpor did not however explain what he meant by elements of national power.
Hear him: “We have what we call elements of national power, and talking about elements of national power you have natural and social elements and these elements can be deployed separately or combined to achieve the national objectives.
“You know that this was a very high-powered committee and there was a lot of secrecy about how they went about deploying those elements of national power to ensure that the last batch was released.”
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The DHQ spokesman said the terrorists that carried out the attack would not go unpunished.
“Talking about what happened to the terrorists, that is part of the details you won’t get now but surely anybody who commits any offence against the nation will definitely be fished out and be brought to book,” he assured.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, added that the operation was non-kinetic in nature.
“I don’t think the details of the operation should be an issue, for now, the most important thing is that these people have been held hostage for six months plus and the Defence Headquarters in collaboration with other agencies and a Committee that was set up by the President and Commander in Chief, has been able to secure their release.
“In the course of operations, there is what we call kinetic and non-kinetic operations and this one was that of non-kinetic Operations that was conducted to see that these people are released. At the appropriate time, the details will be given.”