The military yesterday warned protesting members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against acts of treasonable felony, arson and other actions capable of threatening Nigerian sovereignty.
It said it would not hesitate to apply the Rule of Engagement (ROE) to the letter, if the circumstance arises for it to deploy troops on internal security operations, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and the Armed Forces Act.
The warnings came against the growing pro- Biafra protests that have rocked the South-East as well as Delta and Rivers states. The protesters are demanding the release of a director of a pirate radio station, Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and the alleged marginalization of the Igbo by the Federal Government.
One person was killed and two others were injured in a clash on Tuesday between the protesters and police in Port Harcourt. But the army, in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, warned pro-Biafra protesters not to test the will of the military.
It also warned officers and soldiers on Operation MESA and others on internal security duties to abide strictly by the dictates of the ROE, even as it reiterated the consequences of taking sides during such operations.
“The Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and properties that once deployed, we shall apply the ROE to the letter.
“It is, however, hoped that such circumstances would not arise that we should be deployed on such operations, because let nobody make any mistake, within the ambit of the law, we shall apply the ROE to the fullest.
“The public is hereby informed that officers and soldiers have been warned not to take sides in any conflict and, if found wanting, would face the consequences of their actions. Any officer or soldier found aiding or abetting any act of arson, vandalism or unprofessional conduct, would be severely dealt with according to the extant laws,” the army said.
It said: “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), 1999 (as amended) vide Sect 217 (2) (c) provides that the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) shall suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authority to restore order when called upon to do so by the President, Commander-in- Chief. This provision is reinforced by Sect (8) (1) and (3) of the Armed Forces Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, (LFN) 2004.
This presupposes that troops have to use necessary force to quell crisis resulting in deaths, injury and damage to properties. “Consequent upon this and the observed short comings, especially negligence and outright ignorance displayed by troops deployed for Operation MESA and other Internal Security (IS) operations, it was necessary to remind all about the Nigerian Army Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Code of Conduct for such operations in aid of civil authority for public knowledge and understanding.
For the avoidance of doubt, the ROE and Code of Conduct set out the circumstances and limitations under which force may be applied to achieve military objectives in furtherance of government policy within Operation MESA and other IS Operations.
“In the ROE, once deployed on any IS operation, it is the duty of an officer or soldier to ensure the enforcement of law and order in conjunction with other security agencies.
Troops are duty bound to intervene in any situation to avoid a breakdown in peace, stability or law and order of an area where they are deployed. It is inexcusable for troops to stand aside and watch the security situation deteriorate, leading to loss of lives or damage to property without intervening.
Such intervention should, however, be based strictly on sound judgement and within the ambit of the code of conduct for IS Operations while exhibiting good professional ethics.”
A report monitored yesterday on a private television station, Channels Television, also quoted the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, as saying that those calling for the declaration of Biafra Republic should stop daring the military that is empowered by law to protect the nation’s integrity. According to him, the military will not hesitate to suppress what he described as insurrection or civil disobedience.
He said the military had the responsibility to restore order if directed by the President and Commander- In-Chief of the Armed Forces and would use force to quell the protest, if need be. “For the avoidance of doubt, the military’s Rule of Engagement sets out the circumstances and limitations under which the military can enforce laws under situations of unrest, agitations and civil disobedience,” he said.
Abubakar stated that should the military be provoked, it would have no choice than to protect the sovereignty of the country.
Meanwhile, the police yesterday denied allegations that some protesting members of MASSOB and IPOB were killed. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mrs. Olabisi Kolawole, an Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), quoted the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, as saying the police are conscious of the rights of citizens to freedom of lawful assembly and expression.
The police, however, warned against violence, saying the force would let those who breach the peace feel the full weight of the law.
