The Nigeria Army has reiterated its commitment to stamp out terrorists and terrorism act in the country.

This assurance was given by the Chief of Defense Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim, during an interactive session to foster civil/military relations in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The parley had in attendance elders, youths, women, traditional and religious leaders and other stakeholders.

Addressing the gathering, the CDS who was represented by the Deputy Director Civil Military Relations, Air Commodore Onitiju, stressed that the military will repel any attempt by unscrupulous elements to turn the country into a war zone.

Onitiju said that his mission in Maiduguri was to consolidate on the peace achieved so far. He tasked the stakeholders to always cooperate with the military operatives in the course of their duties, as according to him, security forces alone cannot achieve success without vital information from the general public.

He admitted that the military might have caused some damages during operations, but that such was never intended.

He revealed that the Defense Headquarters will soon send a team of investigators to interrogate all those detained with a view to release the innocent, while those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.

In his words: “Anybody working against the peace in the country will be forced to respect the law.”

“Terrorist are like cancer in the body and if not removed it would destroy the whole body, because any part of the country which is affected by any crisis affects the whole nation, as Nigerian one indivisible entity,” he said.

Air Commodore Onitiju said that the military repose great confidence in elders, adding that they should refrain from shielding their children involved in terrorism and other criminal activities.

At the public session held at the Ramat Square Maiduguri, parents and guardians particularly women urged the military to release their children, claiming they were innocent.

A traditional rulers who spoke at the meeting, Bulama Bashir Bukar of London Ciki appealed to the military to release those erroneously detained, even as he gave his word that the elders will work in conjunction with the military to ensure that permanent peace returns to the state.

Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi on Monday asked the Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe to resign, saying he had failed the region.

The face-off between the two has been ongoing for months and political observers see Amaechi’s outburst as the climax.

In a chat with newsmen in Houston, Texas, United States while in a meeting with Rivers State community, Amaechi queried that: “Under Orubebe, what development have we witnessed?; None.”

“It is a strategy to distract the Niger Delta people by trying to hide all his failures. I had gone through the region and no presence of his ministry was felt anywhere in the area of meaningful or people oriented projects.”

“I challenge him to a debate for every one project Orubebe can show me that he had done in the Niger Delta region. I will show him 10 of such projects in Rivers State.

“We did a 41-kilometre road to Opobo under water, yet the East-West Road on land he cannot complete. The Port Hacourt/Owerri Road is their road, yet we are doing it with Rivers State funds.”

The Governor, while responding to his rumoured presidential ambition, said: “I cannot contest against Mr. President.”

“We are from the same region. I respect him, and he is a good man. I am tired of responding to this issue of presidential ambition. It is normal to have contrary views on some topics but it doesn’t transcend to hatred.”

“It is the likes of Orubebe that fans the embers of hatred. It is unfortunate that he can accuse me of corruption, nobody has accused me before.

“If Orubebe wants us to go public any day, I am ready. I often tell them that the problem with me is that I am not an old man.”

“I am equal to the task of confronting anybody who confronts me on issues that are mundane. I advise him again to face his work, and make his presence felt in the region.”

Amaechi further stated thus, “After all, I don’t have any mansion anywhere, but I know Orubebe’s mansion. If he wants, we will show the world his mansions.”

 

As Nigeria joins the rest of the word to celebrate this year’s Eid-el- Malud, President Jonathan has called on Muslims in the country to pray for peace as well as the quick recovery of the Emir of Kano who was shot by unidentified gunmen last week.

Jonathan in a goodwill message to Muslim faithful as they celebrate Eid-el-Maulud which commemorates the birth of Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) said they should not forget the nation in prayers.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity matters, Reuben Abati quoted the President saying that as Muslims celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammed, all true believers of Islam should continue to pray for peace in all parts of the country and resolve to do more to support the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and its security agencies towards ensuring greater safety of lives and property in Nigeria.

“The President urges them to offer special prayers for the officers and men of Nigeria’s security agencies at home and abroad who are working very hard, day and night, and sometimes making the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country and all who live in it.

“The President also urges the Islamic faithful to remember the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero and members of his family in their prayers and pray for their speedy recovery from the trauma of last weekend’s heinous attack, and the peaceful repose of the souls of those who sadly lost their lives in the despicable assault on an icon of the revered institution of traditional rulership in the country.”