The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday challenged a former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, to come on the battlefield and have firsthand experience of what the military is capable of. The DHQ further warned him to desist from provoking the armed forces with his comments on the internet space.
   
Dokubo had, on October 5, in a viral video threatened to shoot down a military helicopter hovering around his residence, claiming that two helicopters had been flying over his home and compound for over 30 minutes.
   
The 60-year-old said he perceived the act as provocation from the government, the police, and supporters of former Rivers State governor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. He warned that should the helicopters be shot down, the blame should not rest on him, adding that he could contain the Nigerian military. 
   
Reacting to Dokubo’s claim, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj General Edward Buba, dared him to come to the battlefield and see whether he could contain the military or not. Buba vowed that the ex-militant leader would be taken out if he showed up on the battlefield. 
   
Buba said: “Now, to comment by an individual that he can shoot down military helicopters, I think that’s laughable. And I say that because, you know, we are in a democracy, and we are professional, of course, we cannot just, based on somebody’s comments, begin to do certain things. They will accuse the military of being undemocratic.  
   
“The military is not the only security agency, force or department in the country. Other security forces have a role to play constitutionally when it comes to some of these issues.
   
“I tell you that he doesn’t have that capability, but I will allow the security forces that are responsible for handling such cases to take up the matter. Ours is, come on the battlefield and we take you out. He should come on the battlefield and see whether we can react or not.”
   
Meanwhile, in a fresh crackdown, Nigerian troops seized 789,200 litres of stolen crude oil and dismantled 65 illegal refining sites, in a major operation aimed at combating oil theft and securing the country’s natural resources. The ongoing crackdown, which is part of the military’s efforts to curb oil-related crimes, was announced during a briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
   
Director of Defence Military Operations, Buba, confirmed that the stolen crude was intercepted at multiple locations across the country. Troops also arrested 35 persons involved in oil theft and rescued 188 kidnapped hostages in the process.  
   
According to Buba, the Niger Delta region, a hotspot for oil theft, saw the destruction of two dugout pits, 58 boats, and 39 storage tanks used by criminals for refining stolen crude oil.  
 
Other seized items included 13 cooking ovens, 35 drums, one motorcycle, a tricycle, four speedboats, and 13 vehicles. Additionally, troops recovered 64,950 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
   
He noted that in the South-South region, troops denied oil thieves N688,125,150 in one week, adding that the military’s efforts extended beyond the oil sector, with troops neutralizing 165 insurgents and arresting 238 individuals in various operations across the country. 
   
The troops also confiscated 153 assorted weapons, including 81 AK-47 rifles, 23 fabricated rifles, 27 Dane guns, and 13 pump-action guns. Over 2,000 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.