DHQ Dismisses Asari Dokubo’s Threat as “Laughable”
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has labelled former Niger Delta militant Asari Dokubo’s claim that he can bring down military aircraft as “laughable”.
Dokubo’s boast came after he alleged that military planes were hovering over his residence in an attempt to intimidate him due to his support for the recently conducted Rivers State local government elections.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, swiftly countered Dokubo’s assertion, stating that the ex-militant lacks the capability to challenge the military or down its aircraft.
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“We’ve seen individuals make such claims before, but they’re merely empty threats,” Buba said, emphasizing that Nigeria’s professional security forces cannot be swayed by every comment or threat.
Buba highlighted that the military is just one part of the country’s security apparatus, with other agencies playing crucial roles in addressing such issues.
“As a democracy with professional security forces, we cannot act on every comment or threat. The military is not the only security agency in the country; there are other forces with constitutional roles to play in addressing such issues,” he noted.
He urged the public to disregard Dokubo’s claims, stressing that the relevant security forces will handle the situation.
“However, I believe that such claims don’t have the capability to materialize. I’ll let the relevant security forces handle such cases. When the time comes, we’ll assess the situation and respond accordingly.”
Recalls Asari Dokubo, known for his militant activities in the Niger Delta region, has a history of making bold statements.
In 2004, he threatened to launch an “all-out war” in the Niger Delta unless the federal government ceded greater control of the region’s oil resources to the Ijaw people
