The Head of Information Unit, Defence Headquarters, Major-General Chris Olukolade, says troops are ensuring the protection of the entire Damaturu community with the active involvement of the Nigerian Air Force.

This comes after a Monday morning attack believed to have been carried out by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital had left three civilians dead.

Olukolade was speaking about the attack and other recent attacks during a telephone conversation on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.

According to him, a group of terrorists attacked Damaturu “from various angles and with all kinds of weapons and tanks but eventually they were forcibly repelled” and pursuit is still on to ensure that a number of them are apprehended.

“Also in Maiduguri, the arrangement to firm up security for the area is on… and the whole operation will continue.

“The important thing is that its enjoying the support and understanding of the communities around,” he said.

Olukolade explained that the civilian communities have been supportive of the military operations because of the mutual understanding they have of the mission to rid the state of terror.

He, however, called for a higher level of cooperation from them, especially on the back of reports that the insurgents usually mingle with the people, thereby making it difficult for the Army to fish out the criminals.

He urged the people to be brave enough to help the military identify the “bad guys” among them as these would go a long way in helping the fight against insurgency.

The protection of the people that give information to the military was, however, brought to the fore and the General, while giving the assurance that the military would not take this for granted, added that so far there had been no incident to prove otherwise.

He also advised that citizens should be on the lookout for groups of people moving into their communities and alert the military as there are proofs that the communities are more easily attacked by disguised insurgents from within.

“As much as possible we are getting what we require for our mission and the Government will keep trying to ensure that the military is duly equipped” he said, while asking not to be drawn into the politics of military motivation and how well equipped they are.

He also refused to comment on the reported withdrawal of the Nigerian military from a training which was supposed to have been carried out in conjunction with U.S forces.

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