Attacks on Military, Declaration of War, FG Warns

The federal government has issued warning to separatists and militant groups across the country that it would henceforth declare any attack on the military as an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed issued the warning yesterday in Lagos at a press briefing with online publishers on national security.

He condemned the growing trend in some parts of the country where military personnel whose responsibility was to protect the country were either maimed or killed by militants and separatist groups.

He said the practice would no longer be condoned as its purpose was to instill fear in the public and create a sense of insecurity among the public.

Mohammed warned that the groups engaged in such dastardly act would pay dearly for their actions whether they were known or unknown gunmen.

“Now, there is a growing dangerous trend which I will like to comment on. It is the practice of launching deadly attacks against the nation’s security personnel. Soldiers as well as police, customs and other security agents have been killed and maimed in some parts of the country in this growing trend of targeting security forces. I want to say, unequivocally, that any attack on our security men and women is an attack on the state and a declaration of war against the nation. It follows, therefore, that this will be countered with overwhelming force.“