The Nigerian military has responded sharply to claims made by former militant leader Asari Dokubo, who recently boasted that he could shoot down a military helicopter hovering around his residence and contain the Nigerian military.
In a fiery rebuttal, the military command has thrown down the gauntlet, daring Dokubo to join them on the battlefield if he believes he can match their might.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, issued a statement on Thursday challenging Dokubo’s assertions.
Buba, in a pointed message, invited the former militant leader to step onto the battlefield to test his claims, stating that Dokubo would be “neutralized” if he attempted to confront the military.
“Now, to comment that he can shoot down military helicopters is laughable,” Buba remarked.
“We are in a democracy, and we are professionals. We cannot act on someone’s comments without due consideration, lest we be accused of being undemocratic. But make no mistake, if he shows up on the battlefield, he will be dealt with swiftly.”
Buba also emphasized that the military’s focus remains on combating terrorists across different regions of the country.
He clarified that while terms like “bandits” are used in some areas, the military sees all such groups as terrorists and is working hard to neutralize their operations. He highlighted the military’s successes, including the elimination of over 300 terrorist commanders in recent months.
“Our aim is to weaken their fighting capabilities and diminish their military potential, and we’ve been doing that successfully. As seen in the weapons and ammunition we’ve recovered, our troops are making significant progress,” he said.
The military’s message to Dokubo is clear: words are cheap, but the battlefield is where real power is tested.
Whether Dokubo will accept the challenge remains to be seen.