Irabor takes security parley to South-East, says ‘secessionists have wrong understanding of realities on ground’

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, has assured South-Easterners  of his commitment to improve the security situation in the region.
Irabor gave the assurance on Thursday in Owerri while interacting with retired senior military officers from the Southeast zone.
The Deputy Director, Defence Information, Air Commodore Wap Maigida, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
The CDS said the military was at the forefront of redressing various security threats confronting the country, pointing out that the police and other security agencies were working in synergy to redress the threats.
He said that the current agitations in the South-East had made the security situation in the zone a peculiar one, adding that a good number of those in support of such agitations and secessionists had wrong understanding of the realities on ground.
According to him, the engagements of the military veterans in the region is useful, given their privileged and distinct positions.
He said they could bring greater understanding to stakeholders in the region and disabuse the misconceptions and perceptions of the agitators.
Irabor commended the senior citizens for the turnout, adding that they remained dependable partners in establishing peace and stability in the country.
He urged the veterans to remain loyal as demonstrated during their patriotic service in the military, saying that both retired and serving military personnel were completely sold-out to the unity and faith, peace and progress of the country.
“Among the various stakeholders, the retired senior military officers have the greatest interest within the matrix of defence and national security,” he said.
The Chief of Defence, Civil-Military Cooperation (CDCMIC), Rear Adm. Fredrick Ogu, said the input of the retired senior officers was germane in proffering lasting workable solutions to prevailing security the region.
Ogu said the first and second edition of the CDS interaction with retired senior military held in the South-West and Northwest regions would be replicated in the remaining geopolitical zones and the FCT.
The General Officer Commanding (GOS), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Taofeek Lagbaja, said the forum would further shape and enhance the collective efforts of the military at responding to the emerging security challenges in the Southeast.
Lagbaja said that the military and other security agencies had continued to enjoy unparalleled support and goodwill of the people.
Irabor also urged the retired senior military officers to offer their wealth of experience toward the fight against criminality.
He said: “Given the current dynamics of insecurity, it behoves retired senior officers to offer valuable advice to aid our security personnel in the fight against criminality.
”We sincerely hope that having obliged your presence at this interactive meeting, you will bring your wealth of experience to bear so that together, we will surmount our challenges.”
He thanked the officers for attending the meeting and appealed to them to proffer solutions to security challenges in the zone and nation at large.
He also called on Nigerians to desist from using violence to pursue their political or other objectives.
He warned that the nation’s security agencies would not tolerate any form of violent conduct in whatever guise.
In a remark, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, thanked the Department of Civil Military Cooperation for sustaining its foundational legacies.
Ihejirika called on Nigerians to support peace and security efforts by the military.
He expressed the confidence that with all hands on deck, criminality would be brought to its barest minimum.
Top military personnel that attended the meeting included the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. S.A Adebayo, and the Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Obinze, Owerri, Brig.-Gen. Raymond Utsaha.
Also in attendance were the Imo Commissioner of Police, Mr Abutu Yaro, and scores of other senior military officers.