Army ‘ll not rest until terrorism, kidnapping are eradicated – IHEJIRIKA

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, has vowed that the Nigerian Army will not rest on its oars until terrorism, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country were eliminated.

Speaking at the 9th Nigerian Army Finance Corp Biennial training conference 2013 in Umuahia, Ihejirika said: “With the support of Mr. President and the transformation the Nigerian Army is undergoing, challenges of insecurity, including Boko Haram menace, kidnapping, threats of violent crimes will be stopped from rearing their ugly heads in the country.”

Represented by the GOC 82 division, Major General AA Olaniyi, Ihejirika assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces were on top of the security situation in the country, contrary to what it was when the President declared the state of emergency four months ago, adding that the army was winning the war against terrorism.

“The same way the President issued a directive that issues of kidnapping and violent robberies be brought down in Abia State through the ‘Operation Jubilee’, which was achieved, is same way the security challenges we are facing today will be brought down,” he said.

Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, in his remarks, commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for the dogged collaboration in blending the necessary force elements that assisted the state banish kidnapping and kidnappers in the state.

Gov Orji hails military
He said: “This has led to guarding the peace that has helped our state return to economic prosperity, while laying the foundations for sustainable development of Abia State through our many legacy projects.

“You (military) have through your efforts in Abia State and many other states in the nation, defined new formidable roles for the Nigerian Armed Forces in our democracy.

“As our nation still grapples with the problems of laying the solid and sustainable institutions of democracy, building the economic development to sustain and cater for the needs of our citizens, as well as managing the many conflicts that arise in the process, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to adapt to the growing challenges of national security and effective deployment of our dwindling available resources to achieve optimal results.

“All these are necessary, if the armed forces will be able to serve the nation better in the provision of the human security required in peace time, while still maintaining the delicate security challenges that we face at all times.”

Chief of Accounts and Budget, Nigerian Army, Major General Abdullahi Muraina, in his address, noted that the NAFC training conference was aimed at reviewing the corps’ past activities in relation to the present, with a view to making projections for the future.

“The theme of this year’s conference ‘Transforming the Nigerian Army towards meeting security challenges and national development: The role of NAFC’, has been chosen to assist our roles as financial managers and custodians of the Nigerian army funds.

“While increasing demand for funding raises questions of affordability and sustainability, there are equally vociferous criticisms of perceived inadequacies in the Nigerian Army preparedness.

“In order to mainstream these concerns, the Army Finance Corp is organising the training conference to identify various options to overcome this evident paradox,” he said.