The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a call to Nigerians, urging them to actively prevent terrorists from gaining ground in the new year. The DHQ emphasized the importance of citizens being vigilant about security matters and reporting any criminal activities in their surroundings to security operatives.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, assured that the military would take prompt action based on information provided by the public. In a colloquial tone, Buba urged Nigerians to “make dem no gree for terrorists this year” and encouraged them to report anything suspicious, emphasizing that the military would respond.
Buba adopted the popular slang “no gree for anybody,” which is currently trending among youths and is interpreted as a call to adhere to one’s beliefs and resist external influences. While Buba utilized the slang to rally support against terrorism, it’s worth noting that the Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had earlier expressed concerns that the slang could potentially lead to crisis in the country.
Highlighting the military’s objectives for 2024, Buba emphasized the commitment to locate and destroy terrorists wherever they may be hiding. He stated, “Our operations indicate that we are hunting the terrorist commanders and their senior leadership. Indeed, from their topmost leadership to the lowest commanders are dead men walking, and we will stop at nothing until they are dead or surrender.”
Providing updates on recent military operations, Buba reported that in the last two weeks, 86 terrorists had been neutralized, 101 arrested, and 30 perpetrators of oil theft apprehended. Additionally, 21 kidnapped hostages were rescued, and troops prevented oil theft amounting to an estimated sum of N736,115,470.00 in the South-South region.