The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, on
Thursday, read the riot act to those calling for the exit of Nigeria’s
south-east and parts of the south-south to form an independent nation of
Biafra; an indication that the Nigerian military appears to be losing
its cool with young pro-Biafra agitators.
Relying on the military Rule of Engagement for internal security
operations, Abubakar warned that the armed forces is empowered by the
constitution to suppress what he described as insurrection or civil
disobedience.
He added that the military has the responsibility to restore order
when called upon to do so by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the
Armed Forces.
The implication of this, according to him, is that troops have to use necessary force to quell crisis of this sort.
“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.
