The Defence Headquarters said on Thursday that the call for interim government by a section of the civilian populace is mischievous and unconstitutional.
Director of Military Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami who spoke on the issue while fielding questions during the biweekly briefing on the activities of military and security agencies against the insurgents, cautioned against dragging the country back.
He said that the Presidential election has been successfully conducted and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared the results of the election.
General Danmadami said that “those making the call are trying to be mischievous on a step they knew is unconstitutional.”
On the rise of spate of kidnapping in the country after the election, the operations spokesman reiterated that the fight against criminals must not be left to the security agencies alone.
“All hands must be on desk to check it and all aspects of the society must be involved” adding that the recent kidnapping can not be wholly attributed to the relative increase in cash circulation compared with the weeks of the elections. He assured that the military has not and will not relent in its efforts against the criminals and are working hard round the clock 24/7 to ensure that criminality is reduced .
On their performance within the past two weeks, Major General Danmadami said that a total of 974 terrorists comprising 77 adult males, 364 adult females and 533 children surrendered to troops at different locations within the joint areas of operation in the North East of the country.
“Troops equally neutralized 21 terrorists, captured 9 suspected Terrorists, arrested 11 suspected terrorists logistic suppliers/collaborators, they apprehended 2 other terrorists and rescued 54 terrorist escapees”.
The “troops recovered 14 AK47 rifles, 2 NSVT guns, 1 NSVT gun barrel, 1 QJC barrel, 3 RPG bombs, 1 Anti-Riot gun, 3 pump action guns, 2 hand grenades, 3 PKT MG, 3 Gun Trucks, 188 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammunition, 142 rounds of 12.7x108mm ammunitions, 110 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 27 cartridges, 18 dane guns.17 AK47 magazines and Improvised Explosive Device wires”.
Other items recovered include 2 grinding machines, 1 vulcanizing machine, 1 mechanic tool box, tyre rims, 3 pairs of Boko Haram Uniforms, shovel, bags of assorted food stuff, cartons of spaghetti, medical supplier, solar panels, 12 motorcycles, 13 bicycles, mobile phones, boafeng radio, pouches, 1 vehicle and sum of Two Million, Three Hundred and Five Thousand One Hundred and Fifteen Naira (N2,321,015.00) only.
In the North West the troops neutralized 24 terrorists, apprehended 19 suspected criminals and rescued 43 abducted civilians.
Troops conducted fighting patrol to terrorists camps in Maidabino general area in the Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina state and made contact with the terrorists.
Following a fire fight, troops neutralized 2 terrorists and recovered 4 dane guns, 4 AK47 magazines and other sundry items.
Consequently,”within the week in focus, troops recovered 10 AK47 rifles, 9 AK47 magazines, 14 dane guns, 28 rounds of 7.62mm special, 6 motorcycles, radios and 76 rustled cattle.”
Similar military operations in North Central Zone and South East Zone yielded positive results.