Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor, says the perception of discriminatory military engagement against the people of the southeast is not correct.
Gen. Irabor’s statement is against the background of accusations against the military over its alleged harsh treatment of the people of the southeast.
He said this on Thursday at the ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Defence Chief, who was responding to a question while negotiations were done with bandits in the northwest and repentant Boko Haram members being rehabilitated while military operations are scaled up in the southeast, however, noted that insecurity varies from region to region.
He said, “What you find in the southeast is different from what is obtainable in the north.”
Mentioning Sheikh Ahmad Gumi by name, he said the Muslim cleric who had been leading negotiations with bandits, does not work for the military, saying the military would not prevent anyone from playing its part in the fight against insecurity.
He said what is not acceptable to the military is when such persons work at cross purposes with security agencies’ objectives.
Gen. Irabor informed that despite the military engagement in the southeast, he had led discussions with people of the area.
He said while Nigerians have the right to pass their views to the government, they must not do so through the use of violence.
The CDS warned: “If anyone thinks they can try the armed forces, let him try the shape of the armed forces.”