Asari Dokubo Has No Capacity to Shoot Down Helicopter, Says Nigeria’s Military

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday dismissed as blabbing, the threat by former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, to shoot down surveillance helicopters belonging to the government forces for daring to hover around his premises in the Niger Delta after the controversial Rivers State Local Government Elections held last weekend. 

The DHQ also described such threat as empty, insisting that the former militant leader does not have what it takes to challenge the Nigerian military or other security agencies to a fight or the capacity to shoot down fighter or surveillance platforms belonging to state forces. 

Dokubo had issued a stark warning in response to alleged military helicopter surveillance over his residence in Rivers State. In a video on Saturday, circulating via X, Dokubo claimed that two helicopters had been flying over his home and compound for over 30 minutes, an act he perceived as provocation from the government and the police.

“I have the capacity to contain them,” Dokubo had said in the viral footage. According to him, “I have never been afraid of death. I’ve always embraced death, so I am not afraid of death. I did not go and look for the helicopter to shoot them down. I will shoot down the helicopter. I swear by Allah that I will shoot down the helicopter,” he threatened in the viral video footage.

But responding to question on the subject matter during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday, the Director Defence Media Operation Maj Gen Edward Buba, challenged the former militant leader to come to the battle field and be taken out. 

He said: “Now, to comments by some individual that they can shoot down helicopter of the military, I think that is laughable. In fact, he is just blabbing. I say that because you know we are in a democracy and we are a professional force. We cannot just because of somebody’s reckless and unguarded comments begin to do certain things and then critics will begin to accuse us of being undemocratic. 

“The military is not the only security agency or department in the country that use surveillance helicopter. There are other security forces who have a role to play constitutionally when it comes to some of these issues. 

“I can tell you that he doesn’t have that capability he is boasting of, but  we would allow the security forces that are responsible for handling such cases to take up the matter. Ours is come on the battlefield and we take you out. He should come on the battlefield and see whether we can react or not.”

While responding to questions on alleged diversion of welfare packages made for frontline troops by some dishonest commanders in theatres of operations, Gen Buba said that the allegations are unfounded as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other Service Chiefs have continued to prioritise welfare of troops. 

He however declined comment on the ongoing investigation into the case of a former commander involved in a service misconduct. He however, disclosed that the erstwhile commander, a brigadier general is billed to face general court marshal. 

He explained, “Now to comment about welfare, I must tell you at this point that when you look at the high command of the military, beginning with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christoper Musa, to the Service Chiefs, the common denominator you will see or find is that all of them have operational experience. They have been in the battlefield. They know what the troops in the field are feeling and that is why on their appointment to their positions, they took the welfare of troops as a priority. I can assure you that the military doesn’t play with the welfare of its troops, particularly at this time. For the army and the air force, I am sure you have heard of welfare flights. Several things have been done which I cannot reel out right now. But I just want to assure you that the military high command does not play with the issue of welfare. I know where you are going to with that question when you spoke about welfare, and it is the case of a brigadier general that was relieved of his command appointment based on issues surrounding welfare and other mistakes”. 

The military, he said is a profession of war which is self regulated. “I wish I could say much more about that situation but I cannot. And the reason is because that case is going to go before a general court martial and by the time I put words forward here now, we will be accused of prejudice. Remember the law dictum that the accused remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. So let us be patience and wait for the outcome of the court marshal,” he concluded. 

Linus Aleke

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