We’ll flush out terrorists, Ihejirika vows

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, has promised that terrorists operating in the northern parts of the country in the name of Boko Haram, will be flushed out in no distant time.

Ihejirika, while speaking to newsmen after the inaugurating of the refurbished Mercedes Benz Prime Movers/Ammunition Carriers and Command Vehicles, assured that his officers would achieve their aim of flushing members of the Boko Haram out of the country.

He commended Onitsha community for its display of maturity during the bomb blast of luxury buses in Kano by suspected Boko Haram sect members, adding that if there was a reprisal by the Igbo, the perpetrators would have achieved their objective to set Nigerians against themselves.

Ihejirika said that the motive of the terrorists was to bomb churches so as to give the impression that Moslems were against Christians, noting that the sect was not only against Christians but against everybody.

The Chief of Army Staff said that when he was appointed few years ago, his mission was to transform the Nigerian Army to be able to face contemporary challenges, adding that he had achieved that with the rehabilitation of barracks and refurbishment of military equipment.

In his speech, governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, commended President Jonathan for his support towards the Nigerian Army, stating that “our Army is among the best in the world.”

He commended the officers and men of 302 Artillery Regiment, the General Support Services under Col T.A Gagariga for their role in maintaining internal security and cordial relationship with the civilian population in the state.

He promised to continue supporting the Army in the state, saying that when he decided to upgrade Onitsha, the barrack was taken into consideration and that was why the government had been funding the rehabilitation of the barracks through direct labour.

He assured that the state government would help in the rehabilitation of the schools in the barracks and provide drinking water to the community.

Governor Obi announced the donation of N100 million for the completion of the rehabilitation of the roads in the Army Barracks, bringing the amount so far donated to N200 million.

The commandant, Army Corps of Artillery, Major-General A.K. Kwaskebe, said the refurbishment was an indication of the Corps’ determination to key into Chief of Army Staff’s vision of transforming the Nigerian Army.
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