by Eze Eluchie
PRESS
RELEASE BY THE IGBO NATIONAL MOVEMENT (INM) ON THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON THE
NIGERIA DEFENSE ACADEMY, KADUNA.
The Igbo
National Movement (INM) views the audacious attack by terrorists on Nigeria’s
premier institution for the training of military and security officers, the
Nigeria Defense Academy, by terrorists, which resulted into the killing of two
officers, the abduction of one officer and the injury of several officers and
soldiers as a monumental source of national embarrassment and concern. The
embarrassment and concern is made more manifest when the international
dimension and status of the NDA, as a center where military officers and
security personnel from across Africa and the Middle East are trained, is
factored in.
The INM
frowns at the reference to the vile characters who perpetuated these attack as
‘bandits’. This was the same appellation given to the terrorists who shot down
a Military Jet a few months ago. We all, Nigerians and interested members of
the international community, must be alive to the reality that vicious
international terrorists with capacity to take down military jets and storm
military formations are now in operation in Nigeria.
In
condemning the terrorists actions at the NDA, INM is also worried by the
lackluster response of the Federal Government to the attack, particularly when
compared with the overly robust and drastic reactions by the same government to
attacks which occurred in the South East region.
Of
particular mention is the response of the Federal Government to a so-called
jailbreak at the Owerri Federal Correctional Center during which over 1,800
prisoners were allegedly released by spurious persons who, the President, the Army Chief and
Inspector General of Police, termed without the slightest investigations or
proofs being presented, as members the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Eastern
Security Network (IPOB/ESN). The President had whilst convalescing in London
(where he was when the alleged jailbreak occurred), immediately ascribed the
jailbreak to IPOB/ESN and promised to ‘deal with them in a language they will
understand’; the IGP followed up by ordering his men to shoot-at-sight and
crush ruthlessly, any members of IPOB/ESN, and on their part, the Military
deployed hundreds of troops and military air arsenal to Imo State. All these
cumulated in unleashing a period of mass atrocities, killings and rape and
maiming of peoples of Imo State, a devastation which the peoples of the State
are yet to recover from.
In contrast,
absolutely nothing has been heard from the President, his Service Chiefs save
for a terse statement from the NDA media office that the military is in
pursuit of the terrorists.
INM calls
upon the Federal Government to ensure that the real terrorists who threaten the
peace and stability of the Nigeria State are effectively tackled by the
authorities and the Government should refrain from conduct which fuel suspicion
that the Federal authorities are in any way sympathetic, abetting and or
complicit with unwholesome terrorist activities under any guise.
INM further
calls for more devolution of responsibilities as it regards security to the
State and Local Government areas and even to the extent of involving
Communities as critical stakeholders in ensuring security. In recognition of
the fact that the Federal Government, in whom all armed security authorities is
currently vested in, has severally proved to be incapable of securing and
guaranteeing the security of lives and properties of Nigerians, INM supports
the call by the Governor of Katsina State, that Nigerians be allowed to arm
themselves to safeguard their lives in the face of increased insecurity in the
country.
Graduating Cadets at the Nigeria Defense Academy, Kaduna
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