Nigerian Military Says It’s Working To “reverse insecurity” In Damboa, Where BH Has Hoisted Its Flag.

On Saturday, there were reports that Boko Haram had taken over the town of Damboa in Borno state, which lies very close to the state capital of Maiduguri. The militants were so emboldened by their victory that they hoisted their flag in the town.

The spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, Chris Olukolade, was asked about that on Monday during the usual press briefing held alongside the spokesperson of the SSS, Police and the DG of the Nigeria Orientation Agency.

Olukolade stated that the Nigerian military was preparing to embark on actions that would enable it to regain Damboa, assuring Nigerians that the current “insecurity manifestations” in the area will be reversed.

“We are firming up our deployment in that general area. Right now they (members of the armed forces) are setting up their activities to reverse any form of insecurity that is noted around there,” he said.

Meanwhile Mike Omeri, the DG of Nigeria Orientation Agency spoke about the recent spate of intolerance in some states where non-indigenes are being asked to leave. He particularly mentioned the threats by some Kano lawyers who warned non-northerners to move out of the area within two weeks or face consequences.

“The citizens of Nigeria have right to live anywhere within the territory. Therefore, no group of persons or individuals has any rights within the constitution of this country to order the movement of any citizen out of any territory or state.

“If any lawyer or any groups of persons or government embarks on this, it would end up an exercise in futility, one that should be totally ignored by all Nigerians.

“We also heard about a similar thing in Imo State sometimes ago. This is the time to state it loud and clear that citizens should not tolerate it,” he said.

The Spokesman for the Nigeria Police, Frank Mba, on his part, said, “Nigerians wherever they live in this country have a right to freedom of movement, freedom of association, have a right to own property and to pursue their daily lives as long as they do so within the confines and norms of the law and therefore, it is clearly outside the powers of any other citizens to say any other thing contrary to what the constitution has provided.

“Those of us within the security sector are monitoring these developments; we are watching it very closely,” he said.

The spokesperson for the for the Department of State Security Services (SSS), Marilyn Ogar, on her part hit at former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, who complained today that her passport was withheld by the SSS this morning.

“Government has asked the SSS to be at the airport. Statutorily, SSS clears all passengers travelling out or coming into this country,” Ms. Ogar said. “I don’t know why some people will sometimes arrogate to themselves unnecessary importance when we have serious security challenges in our hands.”