‘Commodore Olawunmi has not been declared wanted’ – Defence Information says

The Director, Defence Information (DDI), Major General Benjamin Sawyerr, has said retired Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi was never declared wanted for an interview he granted on alleged Islamisation and Boko Haram sponsors in government.

The Director also said Olawunmi was only invited to shed more light on information he provided on Channel Television on tackling terrorism.

In the channels Television interview, Olawunmi had said some governors, ministers and senators are sponsors of Boko Haram, and added that Bureau De Change operators are also sponsors of Boko Haram, which is also known to the government.

He insisted that the government is encouraging Islamisation, when he said every Friday, NDA and all government institutions opened their premises for Jumat prayers. He said Muslims come on Friday for worship in military formations and later they become members of the mess who would later spy on the institution and plan their attacks.

Sawyerr said: “As a result of the information coming from intelligence circle, an officer in DIA invited retired Commodore Olawunmi to come over, so that he can help with information that can assist in the fight against insurgency and terrorism. The DIA officer asked him to come on Tuesday, so that he can even meet with the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Major General Samuel Adebayo. That was all.

“There was no letter or any formal invitation. He just switched off his phone and started calling some media houses that he had been declared wanted.

“You are aware that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has been going on tours of geopolitical zones to meet with retired military officers to come up with information and ideas on how to tackle the myriad of security challenges in the country

“While we cannot blame Commodore Olawunmi for not attending the Southwest zone of the interactive sessions with the retired officers, he went on air in the public domain through a television channel with what he himself portrayed as sensitive classified information.

“If the military wanted to arrest somebody, it is the military police that do that. They won’t even send any signal before one could be picked up…. He could have been arrested the day or days after he made the broadcast, since the system has what it takes to arrest anyone on its radar. He was not declared wanted and there isn’t any reason for his arrest as it is now.” he stated.