Irabor Allays Fears Over Repentant Terrorists

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has
allayed fears over the 1,200 insurgents, who recently surrendered
to troops in the North-east.

North-east communities have protested the development and the
likelihood of reintegration of the terrorists after they left a
trail of blood and destruction in the region.

Speaking at a parley with military veterans in the North-east
held in Yola, capital of Adamawa State, Irabor allayed fears of the
return of the insurgents and assured them that the military would
deal with the matter in the interest of the region.

A statement issued by Defence Headquarters said “on the recent
fear and apprehension making rounds about the mass surrendering of
BH/ISWAP ex-members, the CDS reassured residents and Nigerians in
general to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with
responsibilities of planning the rehabilitation of repented
insurgents.

“According to him, the AFN would deal with the matter for the
good of the region, as there will be no loose ends”.

He expressed his appreciation to the citizens and residents of
the North-east region for genuinely supporting the ongoing
intensive clearance operations by troops of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria (AFN) towards the restoration of permanent peace in the
zone.

Gen Irabor, who spoke in Yola, at the Chief of Defence Staff
Interactive Session with Retired Senior Military Officers in the
North-east geo-political zone, appreciated the people of the region
for supporting the military operations thus far, while seeking for
more cooperation.

Gen Irabor posited that the solutions to the region’s security
challenges lie in the region as he was optimistic that the
situation would get better and better in the days ahead.

The defence chief urged the military veterans to take full
advantage of the security parley in evaluating the various military
operations as their patriotic and constructive assessment of the
general security situation would add value to the ongoing military
offensive and clearance operations.

“What remains very clear is the desire and will of the AFN to
speedily turn around the fortune of the NE to a state where
everyone will be happy again,” the CDS averred.

The CDS described the attack on Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)
officers’ residential quarters, as more of criminal activities
associated with the normal banditry action which the military was
already on the matter.

The Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), Rear
Admiral Fredrick Ogu, announced that the one day security parley
included the Chief of Defence Intelligence brief on the general
security situation in NE, group presentations by the participants
and the interactive session.

Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding
(GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Ismaila Ali,
who was represented by the Commander 23 Brigade NA, Brigadier
General Aminu Garba, commended the Defence Headquarters for the
laudable initiative of tapping from the wealth of experience of the
retired senior officers.

The CDCIMIC urged the veterans to make useful contributions
towards the goal of securing the NE zone and the country at
large.

According to the GOC, the cross fertilisation of ideas between
the current leadership of the Armed Forces and its veterans was
tailored to finding workable ideas in surmounting the contemporary
security challenges bedeviling the Nation.

Notable among the top military brass that attended the parley
were the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Mohammed
Adamu and the Air Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command,
Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has
allayed fears over the 1,200 insurgents, who recently surrendered
to troops in the North-east.

North-east communities have protested the development and the
likelihood of reintegration of the terrorists after they left a
trail of blood and destruction in the region.

Speaking at a parley with military veterans in the North-east
held in Yola, capital of Adamawa State, Irabor allayed fears of the
return of the insurgents and assured them that the military would
deal with the matter in the interest of the region.

A statement issued by Defence Headquarters said “on the recent
fear and apprehension making rounds about the mass surrendering of
BH/ISWAP ex-members, the CDS reassured residents and Nigerians in
general to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with
responsibilities of planning the rehabilitation of repented
insurgents.

“According to him, the AFN would deal with the matter for the
good of the region, as there will be no loose ends”.

He expressed his appreciation to the citizens and residents of
the North-east region for genuinely supporting the ongoing
intensive clearance operations by troops of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria (AFN) towards the restoration of permanent peace in the
zone.

Gen Irabor, who spoke in Yola, at the Chief of Defence Staff
Interactive Session with Retired Senior Military Officers in the
North-east geo-political zone, appreciated the people of the region
for supporting the military operations thus far, while seeking for
more cooperation.

Gen Irabor posited that the solutions to the region’s security
challenges lie in the region as he was optimistic that the
situation would get better and better in the days ahead.

The defence chief urged the military veterans to take full
advantage of the security parley in evaluating the various military
operations as their patriotic and constructive assessment of the
general security situation would add value to the ongoing military
offensive and clearance operations.

“What remains very clear is the desire and will of the AFN to
speedily turn around the fortune of the NE to a state where
everyone will be happy again,” the CDS averred.

The CDS described the attack on Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA)
officers’ residential quarters, as more of criminal activities
associated with the normal banditry action which the military was
already on the matter.

The Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), Rear
Admiral Fredrick Ogu, announced that the one day security parley
included the Chief of Defence Intelligence brief on the general
security situation in NE, group presentations by the participants
and the interactive session.

Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding
(GOC), 3 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Ismaila Ali,
who was represented by the Commander 23 Brigade NA, Brigadier
General Aminu Garba, commended the Defence Headquarters for the
laudable initiative of tapping from the wealth of experience of the
retired senior officers.

The CDCIMIC urged the veterans to make useful contributions
towards the goal of securing the NE zone and the country at
large.

According to the GOC, the cross fertilisation of ideas between
the current leadership of the Armed Forces and its veterans was
tailored to finding workable ideas in surmounting the contemporary
security challenges bedeviling the Nation.

Notable among the top military brass that attended the parley
were the Chief of Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Mohammed
Adamu and the Air Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command,
Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo.