Two
weeks after the plot to bomb about 16 landmarks in Lagos was uncovered and 14
culprits arrested, new information has shown that the suspected terrorists had
smuggled in the said explosives and the detonators in empty fuel tankers.
weeks after the plot to bomb about 16 landmarks in Lagos was uncovered and 14
culprits arrested, new information has shown that the suspected terrorists had
smuggled in the said explosives and the detonators in empty fuel tankers.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubike Ihejirika,
who made this disclosure yesterday at the second day of the interactive session
on Military-Media Relations in Nigeria, held in Lagos, said the plot was nipped
in the bud through intelligence reports.
who made this disclosure yesterday at the second day of the interactive session
on Military-Media Relations in Nigeria, held in Lagos, said the plot was nipped
in the bud through intelligence reports.
Ihejirika
said: “The new information at our disposal revealed that these suspected
terrorists had smuggled in the large quantity of explosives into Lagos in empty
fuel tankers.”
said: “The new information at our disposal revealed that these suspected
terrorists had smuggled in the large quantity of explosives into Lagos in empty
fuel tankers.”
THISDAY further gathered that the terrorists had chosen that
route to avoid suspicion, thereby blending with other tanker drivers on the
roads to beat security checkpoints.
route to avoid suspicion, thereby blending with other tanker drivers on the
roads to beat security checkpoints.
While admitting that terrorism all over the world cannot be won
without the cooperation of the media, Ihejirika urged the Fourth Estate to
always balance their reports before dissemination.
without the cooperation of the media, Ihejirika urged the Fourth Estate to
always balance their reports before dissemination.
He maintained that the army hierarchy would continue to seek the
attention of the media in propagating its activities, stressing that the
relationship was a symbiotic one that would galvanise into a better Nigeria.
attention of the media in propagating its activities, stressing that the
relationship was a symbiotic one that would galvanise into a better Nigeria.
He refuted claims that the army had declared war on Nigerians,
stating that its target was against some elements and groups who have chosen to
declare war against Nigerians through their unscrupulous actions.
stating that its target was against some elements and groups who have chosen to
declare war against Nigerians through their unscrupulous actions.
He added that when this
happens, the army has no choice than to fight against such insurgents using all
elements of war to protect the sovereignty of the country.
On discipline, he flayed the practice by military men who still disobey traffic
laws, noting that henceforth any officer caught disobeying existing laws would
be dealt with according to the laws.
happens, the army has no choice than to fight against such insurgents using all
elements of war to protect the sovereignty of the country.
On discipline, he flayed the practice by military men who still disobey traffic
laws, noting that henceforth any officer caught disobeying existing laws would
be dealt with according to the laws.
He said: “Discipline must be maintained, but the task of doing
that is enormous. We don’t want to hear again that any soldier broke any
traffic laws. We are greatly disturbed when an officer is involved in a traffic
offence. We shall not take it lightly again.”
that is enormous. We don’t want to hear again that any soldier broke any
traffic laws. We are greatly disturbed when an officer is involved in a traffic
offence. We shall not take it lightly again.”
