It’s not our duty to stop agitations – Military

The Nigerian military has said that it is not it’s duty to stop agitations across the country as it is a political thing.

This was in a statement by Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor in Owerri, Imo State capital, during an interactive session with retired senior military officers from the South East geo-political zone.

Speaking after former Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (Retd) said war won’t solve the current issues in the country, Irabor noted that there are constitutional provisions to deal with agitating groups, but added that what the military would not tolerate is violence.

He said;

“It is not the job of the military to stop anybody who wants to agitate. It’s a political thing, but what we are against is having to use the instruments of violence to bring about such agitations. We have a constitution that guarantees us avenues to ventilate any grievance. Why do you have to kill before you achieve your desire?

“So, anyone outside the provisions of the constitution, of course, we as army officers or security agents won’t allow that. It is out of place and we will use anyone who will use instruments of violence to achieve any agenda.”

The CDS also expressed hope of interactions which are to be held in the six geo-political zones, assisting the military in fashioning out ways of resolving the myriad of security issues in the country.