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Tag: CDS Irabor

  • CDS calls for investigation into alleged military abortion programme

    CDS calls for investigation into alleged military abortion programme

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor has called on the National Human Rights Commission to launch an independent investigation into allegation by Reuters of illegal abortion programme by the military.

    Irabor made the call when he led principal staff officers of the Defence Headquarters on a visit to the Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu on Friday in Abuja.

    Reuters had alleged in a report that Nigeria’s military run a secret abortion programme in the country’s North East, terminating at least 10,000 pregnancies since 2013.

    Irabor insisted that the allegation by Reuters was baseless and false, adding that the military had nothing to hide hence the need for an independent investigation to exonerate itself.

    He said there was need for the commission to carry out such investigation in line with its responsibilities.

    According to him, the armed forces as an establishment of the Federal Republic is bound by the Nigerian constitution to operate based on local and international laws.

    This, he added, include international humanitarian laws and laws of armed conflicts as domesticated in Nigeria.

    “And recognizing the place of the national Human Rights Commission and ensuring that all the activities of government and all its citizens and of course, inhabitants, including friends of Nigeria who are within our space conduct their affairs in line with the laws of the land.

    “In recent times, there have been reports which alluded that the armed forces is involved in government programme of abortions in the northeast of Nigeria from 2013.

    “And that report was published by Reuters and of course when we looked at it, we felt this is certainly not us and it does not indeed represent the professional standing of the armed forces of Nigeria.

    “Where we have footprints of operations in line with the dictates of the constitution.

    “We felt that perhaps there are some extra territorial powers that want to weaken the strength of the armed forces being at the forefront of the current engagements that seeks to bring peace to our land.

    “And so some actions need to be taken but of course, being bound by law, being guided by laws, we’ve taken a look and we felt that the right establishment that should undertake investigation is the national Human Rights Commission.

    “So it is in that light that I have come to formally inform you if perhaps you are not thinking about it that we as an armed force stand ready for any investigation, and I think in this case, the NHRC stands a good ground to carry out an investigation,” he said.

    Irabor assured the commission that the military would grant it unfettered access to all its establishments across the country.

    He also gave assurance that the personnel of the armed forces would be available to answer questions in the course of the investigation.

    “We are doing this because we believe we have remained very transparent in our personal engagements and so we have nothing to fear.

    “We have also indicated before now that the report is evil.

    “We felt that since we are the crux of the allegation it is necessary for us to give you that assurance that we stand ready for you to carry out that investigation,” the CDS emphasised.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Ojukwu said the commission was established under the law to deal with all matters relating to human rights protection, promotion and enforcement in Nigeria.

    He said the request of the CDS was in line with the determination of the commission to investigate the allegations because of its human rights implications.

    “As you may be aware, the investigation process of the Commission must meet the International Human Rights standard required for this kind of investigation.

    He said that the investigation will be public and open, transparent, and in accord with principle of fair hearing.

    Ojukwu added that it will ensure accountability, non-discrimination and accommodate variety of interest.

    “As we look forward to announcing further steps in the near future towards the constitution of the Panel of Investigation into the Reuters Report, please accept the warm regards of the National Human Rights Commission,” he said.

  • National security: Brace up, 2022 will be more challenging than 2021, CDS Irabor charges officers

    National security: Brace up, 2022 will be more challenging than 2021, CDS Irabor charges officers

    The Federal Government has yesterday unfolded plans for a reinvigorated anti-terror war next year to get rid of insurgents, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, who acknowledged the need to regig the battle, charged officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to brace for more challenges next year.

    Gen. Irabor said although the outgoing year was challenging, 2022 will be more challenging in all aspects of national security.

    He urged the military to rekindle commitment, efficiency and effectiveness in a bid restore security and peace.

    The CDS, who spoke at the decoration of newly promoted Air Force and Naval officers, said: “You need to escalate your level of commitment, your level of efficiency and effectiveness because if 2021 is challenging, I like to assure you that 2022 will be more challenging and that is the reason I like to call on you to please brace up because you must at all cost take away every form of insecurity in our land.

    “Looking at your pedigree, and the report that was received during the Council meeting, I know you will live up to this challenge.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that all of you that have been decorated up to the two star rank, you have all that it takes to deliver on the goals that have been demanded of you.

    “Let me equally add that the Commander-in-Chief in the light of the various support he has given to us and the assurances he has given to us, more importantly issues that pertain to our welfare and the administration of men and women of the Armed Forces, much is required of us. I like to urge you to please, ensure that our loyalty to Mr. President and the Constitution of the Federal Republic remain rock solid, let it not be that for whatever reason that our loyalty should not be doubted. It has never been in doubt and I know, it shall not be in doubt”.

    Gen. Irabor added: “No one needs any clarification or awareness as to the challenges that we face in our country and we not only all need to shy away from the fact that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has done very well within the limits of the resources that are available to deal with the issues that demand the attention of the Armed Forces.

    “I believe that you all know that the nation is happy with the efforts of the Armed Forces because of the enormous contributions you have made to ensure that there is peace and security in our land. Today, I make bold to say, especially for the Northeast and most parts of our country, this is the quietest December we have had in the last couple of years, and all thanks to you men and women of the Armed Forces and of course our supporting agencies for this worthy contribution that you have made.

    “I like to also inform you that the Commander-in- Chief is happy with you and he demands more from you as we enter the new year”.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, explained that in the military, “promotion process is usually a painstaking exercise that entails the selection of the ‘best out of the best’ for elevation”, adding that, “promotion is not just given to personnel for doing their jobs very well, but also for demonstrating potentials to do more, especially at higher levels”.

    The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, noted that quality leadership in the Armed Forces is essential for the optimal realisation of its objectives.

    He said: “In the profession of arms, the optimal employment of men and material has direct impact on operational outcome in the theatre and national security, as a whole. Hence, despite the huge number of annual enlistments into the military, only the most dedicated and loyal rise to the very apex of the profession.”

  • #EndSARS report: CDS Irabor faults process of release, cautions against ‘disparaging comments’ about Army

    #EndSARS report: CDS Irabor faults process of release, cautions against ‘disparaging comments’ about Army

    The Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has faulted the procedure adopted in the release of a document said to be the report of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality.

    The leaked report had indicted officers of the Nigerian Army for killing “unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem” at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

    The CDS however explained that he could not, at the moment, comment on the content of the document because he has not seen the official report.

    General Irabor, who spoke after a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor in Benin-City, maintained that the Nigerian armed forces are committed to their constitutional mandate and do not engage in ignoble acts.

    “I am sure those of you in the media must have seen a report that was released through, in my view, a wrong channel, that is making the rounds in the social media,” the CDS said.

    “Whether it is a true report, I can’t tell. But I’d like to indicate that the normal procedure is to have such a report submitted to the convening authority. And then there will be a white paper that will be presented, based on which one can make informed comments.

    “But whatever it is currently, I’d like to indicate that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional armed force. We are peopled by Nigerians and we remain committed to the constitutional mandate. So we will not at this point think that Nigerians should make disparaging remarks regarding the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in the sense that we are a professional armed forces. If there are issues, of course, we address them within the ambit of the provisions.

    “It would not be right to disparage men and women who have worked so hard to ensure that the territorial integrity of this nation is kept intact. So in the meantime, until I see the full extent of the report.

    “I can assure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are well-disciplined and we do not engage in any ignoble acts. If Nigerians do not trust us, then we won’t be doing what we are doing, and in any case, it is the Armed Forces of Nigeria; we are not talking of the police. So when the Armed Forces are called out, it is because there is a need; there is no one who doesn’t desire to live in peace.

    “We need to understand that the Armed Forces are there to keep the peace, to provide the ambiance that will enable each Nigerian to live his or her desires in peace and harmony. So let us not make inciting comments that will put the entire space on fire. That’s not right.”

  • How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    How bandits’ invasion of NDA premises embarrassed me – CDS Irabor

    Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has said that he was embarrassed that the army did not foresee the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy.

    “Nigerian Defence Academy is not a place where we could think that we should fortify to such a level that liberty that is required to be able to emplace the level of leadership learning and skills will be lost,” he said during a programme – RadioNow’s Urgent Conversations, monitored on Channels Television on Friday.

    “But that, of course, is a lesson we have factored, and it does not in any way dampen the preparedness of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to what it should. And it does not in any way speak to our weakness and our inability to defend the nation”.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the academy was attacked by bandits in August, resulting in the abduction of one officer and the death of two others.

    The bandits, who came in a vehicle, were said to have passed through the security gate into the academy, disguised in military uniforms, after which they proceeded to the officers’ quarters.

    On arrival, they began shooting sporadically and in the process, killed two officers (a Major and a Squadron Leader), and later on, took another Major away through the nearby bush inside the academy.

    The sound of the gunfire, however, alerted the troops of the NDA Quick Response Team, who arrived at the scene, but were unable to rescue the kidnapped officer as the bandits were already gone with the victim

  • CDS Irabor confirms killing of ISWAP leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi

    CDS Irabor confirms killing of ISWAP leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi

    The leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadist group, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, is dead, Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, said on Thursday.

    ISWAP has not given any confirmation of al-Barnawi’s death and the army has claimed before to have killed jihadist commanders only for them to reappear.

    “I can authoritatively confirm to you that al-Barnawi is dead. As simple as that. He is dead and remains dead,” CDS Irabor told reporters.

    He did not give details on how or when al-Barnawi had died.

    Al-Barnawi is the son of the founder of Nigeria’s Boko Haram militant group which has been fighting a grinding Islamist insurgency in the northeast since 2009.

    The ISWAP commander rose to prominence after splitting with Boko Haram in 2016 over differences with its commander Abubakar Shekau, who died earlier this year during infighting between the two factions.

    Since Shekau’s death, security sources say, al-Barnawi had consolidated ISWAP’s control in the northeast and the Lake Chad region but pockets of Boko Haram loyalists have been fighting back.

    More than 40,000 people have died in the Boko Haram conflict and around two million more people have been displaced from their homes by the violence.

  • Insecurity: What we are doing to improve operational engagements in troubled areas – CDS Irabor

    Insecurity: What we are doing to improve operational engagements in troubled areas – CDS Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) is currently reviewing its operational engagements in various theatres in order to bring peace in troubled parts of the country.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Sawyerr, on Friday in Abuja.

    Irabor made this known at the 6th edition of the CDS security meeting with military veterans in Asaba, Delta.

    The meeting is tagged, “CDS Interactive Session with Retired Senior Military Officers in the South South Geo-political zone”.

    The CDS said the security meeting which began in the South West, has been of great benefit to the AFNaed forces.

    He said the various engagements has guided the military high command in reviewing its operational doctrines and plans.

    Irabor said interaction was a continuous process and that so much value had emerged from the session with the retired senior officers.

    “We are going to leverage the success and benefit to improve on security and safety of lives and properties.

    “The operational engagements of DELTA SAFE which is in synergy with other internal security arrangement are impacting on the peculiar security challenges which are illegal oil bunkering, piracy, among others.

    “The security disposition in the South-South region will continue to get better, “ he said.

    The CDS said the security meeting will focus on engaging critical stakeholders such as royal fathers, some of who were retired senior officers and among the participants to take some tips arising from the interaction in sensitising their subjects.

    He said the military will continue to foster the right atmosphere for other stakeholders to holistically combat the myriad of security threats in the region.

    According to him, there are other engagements that are holding behind the scene, as they have assessed that kinetic efforts is only a part of the solution.

    “There is non-kinetic approach which forms part of the engagement that is focused on the holistic solutions to the challenges in the Niger Delta region,” he added.

    The Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation (CDCIMIC), Rear Adm. Fredrick Ogu, said the retired senior officers were in a better position to understand the array of security issues in their domain, and could offer professional counsel on likely strategies to adopt in tackling security threats.

    He said the myriad of security issues in the nation and those specific to each geo-political zone were x-rayed, adding that the outcome of the engagements with the veterans was rewarding.

    Also, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Sani Mohammed, commended the initiative by the CDS, saying it would help in enhancing operational performance of the military in the region.

  • Attack on NDA is ‘madness’ – CDS Irabor

    Attack on NDA is ‘madness’ – CDS Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has condemned the attack on the permanent site of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State.

    Addressing reporters on Tuesday in Yola, he described the attack carried out by bandits as madness that must be stopped as soon as possible.

    “The incident in Kaduna, of course, has been undertaken by bandits, but it is more of an armed robber coming to your house,” said General Irabor who was in Adamawa State to meet with retired senior military officers in the north-east region.

    “The infiltration did not come by virtue of the normal banditry action, but these are things we are already looking at and in due course, you will get the details.

    “Any form of insecurity is a cause for worry for anyone and that is why for us, we are more determined that this madness must be brought to an end very speedily.”

    Speaking about the insurgency in the North East, the CDS thanked the residents for genuinely supporting the ongoing intensive clearance operations by troops towards the restoration of permanent peace in the zone.

    He said the solutions to the security challenges in the North East lie in the region, with hopes that the situation will get better in the days ahead.

    General Irabor equally allayed the fears of Nigerians on the ongoing mass surrendering of Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) ex-fighters to the military.

    He asked residents and Nigerians to trust the relevant agencies that have been tasked with the responsibilities of planning the rehabilitation of repented insurgents.

    According to the defence chief, the military will deal with the matter for the good of the region as there will be no loose ends.

    He urged the military veterans to take full advantage of the security parley in evaluating the various military operations, saying their patriotic and constructive assessment of the general security situation would add value to the ongoing clearance operations.

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

  • Shoot on sight must be enforced on illegal bearers of AK-47 – CDS Irabor

    Shoot on sight must be enforced on illegal bearers of AK-47 – CDS Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Friday described illegal bearers of AK 47 as enemies of the country, and deserved to be shot on sight as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Irabor told reporters in Asaba, the Delta State capital, that presidential directive to shoot on sight anyone with an AK-47 rifle was very clear and must be enforced.

    He said the proliferation of illegal arms in the country was a threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence.

    “The mandate of the President for dealing with everyone holding AK-47 illegally is a mandate that must be enforced because we are a state that does not condone illegal bearing of arms,” Irabor said.

    He added: “The armed forces and other security agencies are the only institutions that are mandated to carry arms in the course of their duties.

    “So anyone who is carrying an AK-47 or any other weapon, for that matter, is considered a threat to the existence of the state.

    “And because he is an enemy of the state, it must be addressed; so it’s not a question of my view but rather a question of having to carry out the mandate of Mr. President.”

    Irabor said the Armed Forces, in partnership with other security agencies, would do all that is necessary to bring peace and security across the land and Nigeria “certainly will know peace again.”

    The Delta State born CDS, who said he was visiting the state for the first time since his appointment, commended Governor Ifeayin Okowa for his support to the armed forces and other security agencies in the state.

    His words: “Delta is my home and it feels good to be home, and I said that I cannot come home without paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of the state who has done pretty well, giving very credible support to the members of the armed forces and security agencies.

    “I am aware of the threat dispositions within Delta even though it is stable now, but we know that there are areas of interest that we will need to do a lot to add value in up-scaling the security disposition of the state, and this is part of what myself and my colleagues were doing.

    ”I believe that the state will in no time begin to experience greater level of peace and security.”

    Earlier, Okowa had congratulated the CDS on his appointment and promotion and urged him to do more to secure the nation.

    Buhari issued the shoot on sight order last month following the outcry of Nigerians over the activities of AK47 bearing individuals, many of them herders.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said on a BBC Hausa interview that Buhari ”ordered security forces to go into the bushes and shoot whoever they see with sophisticated weapons like AK-47.”

    The President, according to Shehu, also “ordered that whoever is seen with terrible weapons at all should be shot immediately.”

  • Insecurity: Service Chiefs agree to subordinate themselves, take orders from CDS Irabor

    Insecurity: Service Chiefs agree to subordinate themselves, take orders from CDS Irabor

    Nigeria’s Service Chiefs have agreed to subordinate themselves under the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, in line with universal best practices.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said that Commanders of all ongoing military operations will henceforth report directly to Irabor, as obtained in military organizations across the world.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the decision of the Service Chiefs may not be unconnected to the frosty relationship that existed between the former Service Chiefs and the estwhile CDS, Gabriel Olonisakin.

    In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Service Chiefs, took the decision to strengthen efforts to check the security challenges in the country.

    According to the statement, “the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Oladayo Amao has stated that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and other sister Services have agreed to subordinate themselves to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the abled leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.

    “According to him, just as it is obtainable in military organizations worldwide, the DHQ is responsible for the command and control of the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) which also means that all ongoing joint operations and Joint Task Forces are directly subordinated to the DHQ, and their commanders report directly to the CDS.

    “This, he said, is the new line the Service Chiefs have all agreed to tow as efforts are on to bring the various security challenges to an end. Air Marshal Amao made this known in Makurdi while on his maiden tour of Tactical Air Command (TAC). According to him, ‘When we say we are members of the AFN, we mean the 3 Services represent a single entity. When we accept the fact that we the members of the AFN constitute a united entity, the need for rivalry will not arise.”

  • Peace of Nigeria will no longer be in the hands of terrorists – CDS Irabor

    Peace of Nigeria will no longer be in the hands of terrorists – CDS Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured that the newly promoted Service Chiefs would ensure that Nigerians no longer lives in fear.

    Irabor gave the assurance when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after the service chiefs were decorated with their new ranks, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

    He also pledged that the service chiefs in collaboration with other security agencies would soon restore normalcy to all troubled areas across the country.

    He said: “Nigerians expect us to bring about peace and security in concert with other security agencies, that we will do.

    “We can’t live in fear. And we will ensure that whatever brings fear to Nigerians before now will be a thing of the past.

    “Peace and security is not just the security of the borders alone. It comes with having to build bridges across various divides.

    “We, as members of the Armed Forces, will never in any way demand peace and security of our nation in the hands of the terrorists. Rather it is we that will determine the peace and not for us to leave it in the hands of the terrorists.’’

    According to the CDS, what the new service chiefs will not do is to give instructions to their subordinates and not do the same.

    “What we will not do is to give instructions to our subordinates and not do the same.

    “By extension, we will command the troops based on the expectations that we have of them and they will do it according to the expectations that we have of them too,’’ he said.

    On whether the new service chiefs will consider change of strategies in the fight against insurgency, banditry and violent crimes in the country, Irabor said they would review the current strategies with a view to meeting the demands of current security challenges.

    “Strategies are not sacrosanct. Of course, there are dynamics that we need to begin to look at, what needs to be reviewed, and that is precisely what we are doing currently.

    “We review various strategies and of course come up with new ones to be able to meet the demands of the current realities,’’ he added.

    He noted that the president had given them a marching order to restore peace to all troubled areas in the country, saying they would work assiduously to achieve that.

    On what Nigerians should expect from the newly promoted CDS and the service chiefs in the next 100 days, Irabor said:

    “No doubt, next 100 days is not as important as today. I believe that as members of the Armed Forces working in concert with the rest of the security agencies, we will bring Mr President’s expectations to bear in terms of our task.

    “But let me also let you know that the inevitable is that Nigerians will indeed experience peace and security across the land.’’

    The CDS, who thanked the president for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation, enjoined all citizens to partner with the security agencies in ensuring peace and progress of the nation.