Army ready to deal with any threat to national peace-GOC

The Nigerian Army is ever prepared to deal decisively with any group which under any guise threatens the peace, security and integrity of the nation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division on the Nigerian Army,  Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, ‎ said in Kaduna yesterday.
The GOC who was briefing newsmen on activities and successes recorded within the zone in the past six months, added that  over 21 Boko Haram  members were arrested at various locations within the North-west zone within the period.
He added that over 37,000 livestock were recovered while no fewer than 294 cattle rustlers and kidnappers were arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.
Oyebade said over 101 bandits were killed and over 103 various types of weapons where recoveredý while over 200 illegal camps were destroyed.
He said the army equally sustained some casualties as the Division presently has over 500 widows.
“We lost six soldiers and 10 were critically wounded while several others sustained various degrees of injury and ýtwo of our men are still missing in action, so you can see, we have also had our own share of deaths and about 500 women have been made widows”, he said.
On the arrested Boko Haram sect members, the GOC said: “Quite a lot of Boko Haram members have been apprehended within the zone, over 21 were arrested and are undergoing interrogation.”
On the clash between the army and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as the Shiite group, he said the Nigerian Army holds dearly the sanctity of life in securing the territorial integrity of the nation.
“We make no apologies to any group that threatens the peace and security of the land and will not hesitate to put such group to check. The Nigerian Army has no issue with the Shiite group which is like any other group in the land. But if any group chooses not to obey the laws of the land or challenges the authorities, it means that group does not value the sanctity of life and integrity of the land”, he added.
He said the clash between the sect and the army was avoidable but that the army had issues with those who “create a state within the state”. 
“Our rule of engagement is to address any threat before it becomes a full blown challenge, and any group that chooses to be violent in nature must be dealt with squarely”, he asserted. 
The GOC said the assassination attempt on the Chief of Army Staff was like an attempt on the president himself, and the sect carried out a wave of attacks and troops had to defend themselves.
On the whereabouts of the sect leader, the GOC said El-Zakzaky was safe, secure and undergoing sound medical care, just as every other detainee has been handed over to the appropriate security agency of government, and no detainee is presently with the military. Major General Oyebade called on all groups and Nigerians to be law abiding at all times.