Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Onyeabo Azuuike Ihejirika (rtd) has denied allegations that he is a sponsor of the dreaded Boko Haram terror group in Nigeria.
An Australian self-appointed negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, had in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, published on an online Nigerian publication, The Cable, on August 27, 2014 named Gen. Ihejirika as one of the sponsors of terrorists, but the ex-COAS has described the allegations as frivolous.
The ex-Army chief, while speaking in Abuja at a gathering of Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA Alumni 18 Regular Course, said he was at the forefront of establishing counterterrorism structures while serving as the COAS, and can never sponsor terrorism.
“I will not and I will never, no matter the situation and pressures, contribute in overheating the system. When we joined the military, it was a sacrifice for our country.
“Ironically, 18 regular course suffered one of the worst disasters. Our course suffered several hurdles, which we had to pass through. Boko Haram menace is one hurdle that is challenging but we shall overcome.
Gen. Ihejirika also warned that no group of persons or individuals should toy with national security in the name of politics.
“I therefore enjoin everybody to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan to end Boko Haram. Such frivolous accusations are a way of diverting attention from the main issue. We must not help terrorists or play into their hands.
“Kudos to President Jonathan, we were able to recruit 9,000 troops to build up our strength to boost our border security. This recruitment exercise was the first mass recruitment after the civil war, all in efforts to contain terrorism and insurgency.
“We also established counterterrorism centre in Kontagora in Niger state, which is named after me. Then we established 7 Division in Maiduguri. The terrorists are not sleeping. I have noticed that war is no longer fought on the triple dimension of air, land and sea.
“The terrorists are now using the fourth dimension, which is the media and this is a psychological warfare that the insurgents now engaged in. It is our task as retired officers to help those in service to help defeat this Boko Haram psychological warfare.
“The civil-military affairs department, which I established was meant to educate the populace on the dangers of terrorism and insurgency and to encourage citizens to come out and preach against Boko Haram. We even got Nollywood actors to produce jingles in the three major languages and English, which were aired on national television, on the dangers of Boko Haram.
The ex-military chief recalled that in 2011 during the annual Army conference, he foresaw Boko Haram as a major problem but some of his colleagues discarded his thinking.
Speaking earlier, the president of 18 regular course, Air Comdr. Olufemi Oguntuyi said during Gen. Ihejirika’s tenure as COAS, he initiated and completed several projects in the Nigerian Army.
Source: Nigerian Pilot
