The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has described the suicide bomb attacks in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State as an indication of an ‘ending cycle of terrorism’.
It described the Gwoza incident as some of the ‘ugly things that happen when a country is in a state of war’.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, said this yesterday at the Strategic Communications Inter-agency Policy Committee (SCIPC) under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Abuja.
Recall that 32 persons were killed and 52 injured in multiple suicide bomb attacks in Gwoza on June 29.
Gen. Buba noted that the terrorists launched the attacks to get attention and reduce the citizens’ support for security agencies. He, however, urged the citizens not to lose trust in the security agencies.
He said: “In associating what has happened with our operations, I will say that what happened in Gwoza is what happens at the ending cycle of terrorism. At this phase, the terrorists are carrying out their acts to attract attention, bolster relevance, mobilise support and to reduce support for the Armed Forces and the government at large. I will use this opportunity to tell citizens to stand united.
“We must continue to place our trust in the security agencies, and continue to support them in overcoming the security challenges.
“We should all know that we are in a state of war because where you are involved in counter-terrorism, with our troops deployed all across the length and breadth of this country in various theatres, there is no other way to describe it than a state of war. Now, when you’re at war, ugly things happen, and that is what has happened in Gwoza.”