Amid fear that the 2023 general elections will be scuttled by raging insecurity, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has reassured Nigerians of military commitment to protecting the democratic ideals in Africa’s most populous nation, pledging that polls will peacefully be conducted without any hitch.
General Irabor disclosed this today Tuesday 9th August, 2022 at a media parley with News Editors, Bureau Chiefs and Chief Executives of various media organizations, organised by Defence Headquarters to solicit the support of the media organisations towards tackling the security challenges in the country.
The first edition of the parley was introduced by General Lucky Irabor which took place on 26th January 2022, the second in the series of engagements between the Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor and executives and editors of media organisations in Nigeria.
Defence Chief in his keynote address thanked the media for supporting and partnering with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, solicit for effective partnership between the media and the military towards tackling security challenges in the country for better living.
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General Irabor revealed that the assailants linked to the terror attack on the Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Idris Abdulmalik Omeza and other have been arrested
He mastermind Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo June attack and a Police station attack in Kogi State that claimed the life of a police officer.
General Irabor said the attackers were arrested during a joint operations involving the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of Security Services (DSS) and the Nigeria police force.
General Irabor said that, through the collaborative efforts of military and DSS personnel, 4 terrorists were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022. Those arrested included Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi.
The Defence Chief said, preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church as well as the attack on a Police Station in Adavi LGA, Kogi State on 23 June 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.
The Defence Chief also mentioned the arrest of another terrorist, Idris Ojo (32 years), who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on 7 August 2022.
Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre highlighted on 5 July 2022. The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim (39 years), a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him.
General Irabor further explained that the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji on Saturday 6 August 2022, carried out successful strikes on key terrorists’ enclaves and hideouts located at Rugu Forest in Katsina State. The strikes have led to the elimination of one Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawal, aka Abdulkareem Boss.
"Abdulkareem Boss was a high valued target who has been on the radar of the Nigerian Military and other security agencies for a while. He was based in Marina area of Safana LGA and was responsible for several terrorists’ attacks, animal rustlings and kidnappings.
"He was known to regularly invite terrorists’ groups from other areas and regions to join him in attacks on targets",he said.
He said, the military ground troops have been deployed to North West, North Central to secure the territories.
While appreciating the media and Nigerians, General Irabor reiterated military, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies responsibilities and efforts making to ensure that every Nigerians live in peace and harmony.
"What's the criminals amongst us wants to do is to stoke fear and to promote it to such a level that everyone who wouldn't even want to leave our houses. This is the strategy, which, if we do not take time, will become part and parcel of our daily lives. It is for us to understand that this is a criminal enterprise.
This is part of what they want to achieve. That is why the English word terrorism means to terrorise, to promote and propagate fear, then, of course, his aim of embarking and terrorist enterprise has been achieved",he stressed.
General Irabor opined that as men and women of fourth estate of the realm, it is expected of media to educate the society to understand that never again should we allow agents of this disstabilization to stoke fear amongst us.It is essential for us to know that together we will of course crushed those elements who did not want us to have peace.
The CDS therefore, urged the media executives and editors to remain partners in progress in ensuring that their media were insulated from being used by terrorists to unintentionally fuel fear in the minds of Nigerians.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director, Defence Information Major General Jimmy Akpor said the parley was organised in recognition of the key role of the media the leadership of the armed force of Nigeria.
"We will continue to seek you and engage with you. This goes with the broad outline leadership focus of CDS which is “To foster a Professional Armed Forces capable of effectively meeting constitutional imperatives”
Major General Akpor noted that the collaborative effort between the defence Headquarters under the leadership of the Director Defence Information and the media today was conseptualise the furtherance to building a sustainable trust and confidence of the media as the armed forces of Nigeria Conduct the military operation and engagement.
Speaking at the parley, the Chief Executive Officer of The Media Today International, Bar. Charles Odenigbo meeting such as this provides the CDS and editors the opportunity to interact and address security issues and headlines that are likely causing fear and terror in the hearts of Nigerians.
"It is our earnest expectation that we carry out a very practical and robust review or analysis of media reportage of defence and security sector and ascertain how various platforms like newspapers, magazines, radio, television, online and social media have contributed to the fight against the enemies of Nigeria very important today.
Furthermore, it is expected that the media and defence will be very open with one another in the overall interest of Nigeria as we are all aware that perception.Is a very strong perspective, even though it is not always reality.
Highpoint of the parley was a presentation on “Media Analysis/Review of the Defence/Security Sector in Nigeria,” delivered by the CEO PR Nigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib.
The CDS Gen Irabor was also honoured by the Centre for Crisis Communication during the event. The President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, gave the vote of thanks at the event.