The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, on Tuesday reiterated the military would not cede any part of the country to insurgents.
Olukolade made this known in Abuja when he reacted to the claim that terrorists had hoisted their flags in some local government areas in Borno.
Major-General Chris Olukolade
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the hoisting of flags in those local governments remained a rumour.
“What will it take to hoist a flag, as far as we are concerned in the Nigerian Armed Forces, we will not allow any strange flag to fly anywhere or in any portion of Nigeria soil.
“We are not ready to concede any portion of this country to any insurgents or any other authority than the authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Any strange flag flying anywhere is illegal and we have not conceded any portion to fly a flag different from that of Nigeria,’’ he said.
On the issue of desertion of soldiers from the operations in the North-East, Olukolade said that it was a very serious crime in the military.
He said the crime was as criminal as the terrorist and the military have their ways of dealing with the issue,
Olukolade said the military did not believe that any good and discipline soldier would desert under whatever condition.
The defence spokesman, however, said that the authority of the military was making the best effort to address the issue of equipment and welfare.
“And for welfare and equipment, there has been incremental development to ensure that issues involved are addressed and it is not an excuse for anybody to desert.
“It is an act of indiscipline and is not expected of any good soldier.’’
He said that the operation in the North-East was achieving the plan and aim of stemming and stamping out terrorism.
Olukolade said the operation was on course and every effort was being put to ensure that terrorists activities were stopped in that part of the country.
“We believe that with the tempo of operation it will achieve that objective in due course.’’ (NAN)
