The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor, has revealed that the security agencies in the country are constantly under pressure to compromise elections. The Army chief made this revelation today during a 61st session of the Ministerial Media Briefing organized by the presidential Communications Team at the state House Abuja. He, therefore, called on Nigerians to confide in the military that they would continue to be neutral in all election matters in the country.
Irabor disclosed that the security agencies are constantly under pressure through inducements stating that his office has strategized to ensure that his officers and men strictly follow the order of President Buhari on calling for neutrality by the security.
According to him, training of different forms is ongoing to equip officers and men on how to uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties, during and after elections.
Speaking on the key achievements of the Military in maintaining the safety of the country, the Army General said, the recruitment of more personnel into all the security agencies was one of them, taming the activities of banditry and kidnappers raiding the oil bunkering that has led to increasing in oil production cannot be wished off.
He disclosed that the effort of security agencies has led to the release of over 300,000 civilians from the hands of criminal elements since 2014 as well as IDPs who fled their communities are gradually returning.
Answering a question on whether the military can maintain neutrality as directed by the president in the forthcoming election, Irabor said, “I am glad that you reiterated the commander-in-chief‘s directive to the armed forces. I am afraid you say you have a worry. Rather than worry, I would rather think that trust should be anchored. Why? Of course, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, the security forces, and the police. And that’s what criminal enterprise is all about. That is what something that is wrong is all about.
“But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues. And that is what the military we are committed to doing. Now, the reason why we have ramped up our training in that regard, sensitization, a lot of engagement across, you know, the formations and units are being undertaken. And then, more so to articulate a code of conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed.
He added, “So, what, why should they act before, during, and after the elections, these are being codified in the SOP that has been issued to them. So, it remains the duty of the commanders to ensure that the directive, as indicated, and the contents of the SOP are adhered to by every person in the armed forces.
“So, please cease from worrying, rather trust and also engage others to trust that we will keep faith in these desires” Irabor concluded.