Terrorism: Ihejirika lauds Ndigbo for not
attacking Northerners
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika, has commended
Ndigbo for not making the mistake of
embarking on a reprisal attacks against
northerners resident in Igbo land during
bomb attacks in Kano and other parts of
the north.
He said if Ndigbo had made such a
mistake, the terrorists, would have
satisfied their own aspirations in trying to
create a state of anarchy in the country.
Ihejirika, who spoke at the Army
Officers’ Mess, Military Cantonment,
Onitsha, Anambra State, during the
commissioning of some refurbished
military vehicles, including prime movers,
ammunition carriers and command post
vehicles.
He said he was impressed that Ndigbo
were sensible enough to have shunned
reprisal attacks.
He expressed optimism that with the
support of President Goodluck Jonathan
and the Onitsha business community, the
terrorists would not only be surmounted
and kicked out of the country, but also
kicked out of neighboring countries.
He also commended the Onitsha business
community for the support and co-
operation given to his officers and men in
the commercial city and urged them not
to relent in their efforts.
Ihejirika said: My officers and men are
here to do a peculiar and selfless job for
mankind.
He also warned the soldiers to be patient
and avoid any act capable of tarnishing
the image of Nigerian soldiers,
particularly during this democratic
dispensation.
Earlier in his remarks, Commandant of
Army Corp Artillery of the Nigerian
Army, Maj-Gen A. K. Kwaskebe, had
commended Ihejirika for approving the
refurbishment of miliary vehicles and
equipment which were abandoned in
Calabar, Cross River State, after some
foreign peace missions.
Kwaskebe disclosed that some
contractors had bidded for refurbishment
at N300 million but added that the
military applied direct labour which paid
off as only N18 million was spent for the
refurbishment.
He said of the amount, N2 million was
expended on the procurement of tyres,
while N3 million was used for the
evacuation of broken down vehicles from
Calabar to Onitsha.
Prominent businessmen who attended
the ceremony included the chairman of
Anambra State Security Trust Fund and
chairman of GUO Group of Companies
Limited, Chief G. U. Okeke; the chairman
of Lake Petroleum Limited, Chief Cletus
Mbaji, among others.
Meanwhile, the United Eastern Congress,
a body standing as the central voice of
the Easterners has described Ihiejrika’s
visit to Onitsha Military Cantonment as a
demonstration of his total love every Igbo
man has for the unity of this entity called
Nigeria.
The President of the association, Nze Sam
Ike, who made the commendation, said
the Chief of Army Staff had in less than
three years in office, proved that his
appointment as the COAS by the
President Goodluck Jonathan was well
placed