The National Democratic Front (NDF) has penned a touching tribute to outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (retd) and other military chiefs following their recent retirement from service.

In a statement titled “Service Chiefs: A Salute to Courage in Service to Nigeria”, the pro-democracy group hailed the now-retired chiefs for their patriotism, commitment and zeal.

According to its Secretary-General, Dr Bolaji Abdulkadir, the NDF applauded the quartet’s numerous efforts and sacrifices in the war against insurgency and other forms of criminalities across the country.

The statement said the outgoing chiefs set lofty standards that must be sustained by the new appointees as they settle down for the business at hand.

While congratulating the new security heads, the NDF urged them to display a similar unalloyed commitment to preserving the territorial sovereignty of the country by giving their best and building on their predecessors’ efforts.

The group advised them to desist from playing to the gallery as some disgruntled elements in the country would cause a distraction by questioning their credibility.

The NDF, however, urged the outgoing security chiefs to make themselves available for higher service to Nigeria anytime duty calls, and also be willing to avail their wealth of experience to the incoming officers whenever the need arises.

The statement also called on all well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to the new service chiefs as they settle down for business.

Read the full statement below:

The National Democratic Front is issuing this press statement in the light of the recent announcement of the resignation of Service Chiefs and the subsequent appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

We wish to heartily congratulate Major-General LEO Irabor, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, Real Admiral AZ Gambo and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao on their appointments into various branches of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The National Democratic Front uses this medium to charge the new Service Chiefs to display an unalloyed commitment to preserving the territorial sovereignty of Nigeria by giving in the best and building on their predecessors’ efforts.

It is our considered opinion that President Muhammadu Buhari in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have found the new Service Chiefs fit for purpose from the lot and as such it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to them in the quest to make Nigeria a strong and united country.

The National Democratic Front commends the outgoing Service Chiefs for their numerous efforts and sacrifices in the war against insurgency and other forms of criminalities across the country that indeed saw to the decimation of the Boko Haram insurgents as well as other militant groups across the country.

The outgoing Service Chiefs indeed put the country first. They displayed an unwavering commitment and courage in service to Nigeria during their stint. They indeed set lofty standards that must be sustained and built upon by the incoming Service Chiefs as they settle down for the business at hand.

The National Democratic Front is aware of the plan by some disgruntled elements in the country to systematically cause a distraction in the country by questioning the credibility of the incoming Service Chiefs and demonizing the efforts and sacrifices of the outgoing Service Chiefs.

Thus, it is succinct to state that Nigerians must rebuke such individuals and organizations as they do not mean well for the country. This much they have exhibited over the years in a most ignoble manner. They must desist from playing to the gallery in this critical point of our existence. The task at hand requires all level of seriousness that it deserves.

The National Democratic Front as critical stakeholders in the security sector in the country indeed rates the outgoing Service Chiefs in excellent terms for devotion, patriotism and sacrifices to the nation.

We are using this medium to encourage the outgoing Service Chiefs to make themselves available for higher service to Nigeria anytime duty calls, and also be willing to avail their wealth of experience to the incoming Service Chiefs whenever the need arises. They have indeed written their names in gold and posterity would be kind to them whenever the history of Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency is mentioned.

The National Democratic Front also commends President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards putting Nigeria on the right path towards achieving sustainable peace and progress in the country.

We salute the courage of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces thus far. The National Democratic Front indeed pledges its support to the various initiatives deployed to address the country’s security challenges.

It consequently behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to extend their support to the new Service Chiefs as they settle down for business.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) has condemned the killing of innocent citizens by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Monday in Orlu, Imo State.

The group, in a statement on Tuesday, said such lawlessness is unacceptable in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the South-East and South-South.

Recall that fugitive leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had in December announced the formation of the ESN, which has extensively recruited gullible youths into its fold.

Many Nigerians have criticised the outfit, described as a regional military force or IPOB private army.

And in a statement signed by Mazi Dike Christopher, its Director of Mobilization and Enlightenment, the INM said the sole purpose of the ECN is to instigate violence, create chaos and carry out nefarious activities that would lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

According to Christopher, Monday’s incident in Orlu again brings Nnamdi Kanu’s mission to disrupt peace in the South-East and parts of the South-South to the fore.

The INM, therefore, called on all Nigerians and the international community to condemn the killings as the “height of rascality exhibited by IPOB terrorists and its affiliates”.

While commending officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for responding promptly to the distress call from the Nigerian Police, the group warned Kanu to desist from further unholy ventures.

The INM, however, called on Nigerians to join forces with the security agencies to address the threats posed by this militant group.

Read the full statement below:

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement views with concern the recent activities of Eastern Security Network in South East and part of South-South Nigeria that has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

We are aware, just like the generality of Nigerians that the Eastern Security Network by all indication is a creation of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with the sole purpose of instigating violence, creating chaos and carrying out nefarious activities that would lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement, as a result, condemns the killing of innocent citizens by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network in Orlu, Imo State in a most gruesome manner ostensibly on the instruction of the fugitive Nnamdi Kanu.

The unfortunate incident in Orlu, Imo State once again brings to the fore how Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers plan to disrupt peace in South East and parts of South-South Nigeria by establishing the Eastern Security Network to act as the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

We wish to state that this act of lawlessness is unacceptable in the interest of peace and tranquillity in South East and South Nigeria. Hence, the need for security agencies to carry out a detailed investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of innocent Nigerians.

We are also using this medium to rebuke the perceived mastermind of the nefarious activities of the Eastern Security Network, Nnamdi Kanu for his atrocities against the people of Nigeria through the sponsorship of criminal gangs in fulfilment of his innate desire to see to the disintegration of Nigeria.

As a matter of urgency, Nnamdi Kanu must come to terms with the reality that his actions and inactions over the years are acts of terrorism. He must therefore desist from such unholy ventures forthwith.

It’s therefore unfortunate that after committing such a heinous crime against humanity, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, a fugitive, will go online to incite members of the IPOB in Nigeria to take up arms against men of the Nigerian Army under any guise.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement is aware that members of the Eastern Security Network indeed mobilized themselves and armed with assault rifles and attacked police officers and burnt down scores of police stations. This consequently necessitated the distress call to the Nigerian Army for reinforcement in the face of the arson being committed by members of the Eastern Security Network.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement wishes to state in unequivocal terms that incident in Orlu, Imo State that lleftoverfour persons dead and scores injured is the height of rascality exhibited by IPOB terrorists and its affiliates. All Nigerians and the international community must condemn this.

We wish to use this medium to commend officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for indeed saving the day by responding promptly to the distress call from the Nigerian Police. This, in our opinion, indicates the critical role of the Nigerian Army in internal security operations in the country. We also call on the government and other concerned stakeholders to initiate measures that would address the threats posed by Nnamdi Kalu and his cohorts before things spiral out of control.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement is calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to join forces with the security agencies to address the threats posed by this militant group that has been terrorizing the good and peaceful people South-East Nigeria.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement (INM) has condemned the killing of innocent citizens by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Monday in Orlu, Imo State.

The group, in a statement on Tuesday, said such lawlessness is unacceptable in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the South-East and South-South.

Recall that fugitive leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had in December announced the formation of the ESN, which has extensively recruited gullible youths into its fold.

Many Nigerians have criticised the outfit, described as a regional military force or IPOB private army.

And in a statement signed by Mazi Dike Christopher, its Director of Mobilization and Enlightenment, the INM said the sole purpose of the ECN is to instigate violence, create chaos and carry out nefarious activities that would lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

According to Christopher, Monday’s incident in Orlu again brings Nnamdi Kanu’s mission to disrupt peace in the South-East and parts of the South-South to the fore.

The INM, therefore, called on all Nigerians and the international community to condemn the killings as the “height of rascality exhibited by IPOB terrorists and its affiliates”.

While commending officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for responding promptly to the distress call from the Nigerian Police, the group warned Kanu to desist from further unholy ventures.

The INM, however, called on Nigerians to join forces with the security agencies to address the threats posed by this militant group.

Read the full statement below:

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement views with concern the recent activities of Eastern Security Network in South East and part of South-South Nigeria that has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

We are aware, just like the generality of Nigerians that the Eastern Security Network by all indication is a creation of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with the sole purpose of instigating violence, creating chaos and carrying out nefarious activities that would lead to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement, as a result, condemns the killing of innocent citizens by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network in Orlu, Imo State in a most gruesome manner ostensibly on the instruction of the fugitive Nnamdi Kanu.

The unfortunate incident in Orlu, Imo State once again brings to the fore how Nnamdi Kanu and his co-travellers plan to disrupt peace in South East and parts of South-South Nigeria by establishing the Eastern Security Network to act as the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

We wish to state that this act of lawlessness is unacceptable in the interest of peace and tranquillity in South East and South Nigeria. Hence, the need for security agencies to carry out a detailed investigation to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of innocent Nigerians.

We are also using this medium to rebuke the perceived mastermind of the nefarious activities of the Eastern Security Network, Nnamdi Kanu for his atrocities against the people of Nigeria through the sponsorship of criminal gangs in fulfilment of his innate desire to see to the disintegration of Nigeria.

As a matter of urgency, Nnamdi Kanu must come to terms with the reality that his actions and inactions over the years are acts of terrorism. He must therefore desist from such unholy ventures forthwith.

It’s therefore unfortunate that after committing such a heinous crime against humanity, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, a fugitive, will go online to incite members of the IPOB in Nigeria to take up arms against men of the Nigerian Army under any guise.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement is aware that members of the Eastern Security Network indeed mobilized themselves and armed with assault rifles and attacked police officers and burnt down scores of police stations. This consequently necessitated the distress call to the Nigerian Army for reinforcement in the face of the arson being committed by members of the Eastern Security Network.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement wishes to state in unequivocal terms that incident in Orlu, Imo State that lleftoverfour persons dead and scores injured is the height of rascality exhibited by IPOB terrorists and its affiliates. All Nigerians and the international community must condemn this.

We wish to use this medium to commend officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for indeed saving the day by responding promptly to the distress call from the Nigerian Police. This, in our opinion, indicates the critical role of the Nigerian Army in internal security operations in the country. We also call on the government and other concerned stakeholders to initiate measures that would address the threats posed by Nnamdi Kalu and his cohorts before things spiral out of control.

The Igbos in Nigeria Movement is calling on all well-meaning Nigerians to join forces with the security agencies to address the threats posed by this militant group that has been terrorizing the good and peaceful people South-East Nigeria.

The Congress for Human Rights in Nigeria (CHRN) has warned the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International to steer clear of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for taking side with Boko Haram terrorists.

The human rights group, which made this known at a world press conference on Monday in Lagos, noted that these groups aim to destroy the country and erode the gains made in the war against terrorism and insurgency.

In his address, Executive Director, Comrade Lawal Johnson said the international organisations have always turned blind eyes to the many atrocities of Boko Haram terrorists.

Comrade Johnson said they tend to look the other way each time the terrorists attack and wreak havoc on either the military or civilian population.

He, however, added that when the military infiltrates the ranks of these terrorists and neutralise their members, the ICC and Amnesty would immediately raise the red flag alleging all manners of human rights abuses which are most times fabricated to suit their aims of perpetrating or sustaining mayhem in Nigeria.

Having noticed the tendency of these organisations to side with the enemies, Johnson stated that politicians have keyed into the process and begun to use them to pursue their subversive agenda.

According to the rights group, there are indications that the ICC is about to release a report to indict Nigeria military chiefs based on fictitious allegations.

The plot, Johnson noted is to compel troops to abandon the armed forces and go AWOL for fear of being prosecuted at The Hague.

He, however, warned both groups to take their fallacies elsewhere and leave Nigeria alone.

Read the full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press,
I’m sure that by now we are all familiar with the subversive activities of the International Criminal Court, ICC and Amnesty International against Nigeria.

We state without fear of contradiction that these two organisations are both out to destroy our country and erode the gains we have so far made on the war against terrorism and insurgency.

Anybody familiar with the history of insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria and the interventions by these two international bodies would agree that no only do they not mean well for Nigeria but that they are colluding with these agents of destabilisation to destroy our dear country.

THEIR PLANS TO DESTROY NIGERIA

We say because of the incontrovertible evidence we have against these two organisations as characterized by their proclivity to react to issues only in certain manners that expose their bias.

Despite the carnage and obstruction of the order by the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in Nigeria in which over 15, 000 have reportedly been killed over the years while millions of children have dropped out of school and hundreds of thousands more persons have been displaced and have become destitute, the ICC and Amnesty International have never objected the atrocities of these murderers.

Indeed,  we remember how Boko Haram members went to a school at a place called Buni Yard in Yobe State and slaughtered over 58  boys between the ages 11 to 15.

These same set of despicable characters went to a high institution at a place called Mubi, in Adamawa State and selected at random students who they murdered in cold blood and the full view of their mates.

Stories of how they waylay innocent travellers on roads, ut their necks and burn people alive are all too common to be missed by anyone that has followed the Boko Haram and ISWAP crisis in Nigeria.

This is not to talk of attacks on Nigerian troops using soft targets and the planting of landmines on major roads.

Today as we speak, many of our fighting men and women have been dispatched to the great beyond through the needless and meaningless assaults of these bloodsuckers while many of our military men and women have lost dear limbs while some are receiving treatment at various military hospitals in the country.

Many of our women have overnight become widows while the dream of promising young men and women have been cut short by these bloodsuckers.

But the almighty ICC and Amnesty International do not seem to see all these.

THEIR WICKED ACTS AGAINST NIGERIA

Any time the terrorists attack and wreak havoc on either the military or civilian population, the two organisations look the other way and pretend nothing happened.

This has emboldened the criminals to even video their killings and post on social media channels.

But the ICC and AI have never condemned these atrocities nor raise their voices against these inhuman acts.

The moment the Nigerian military infiltrates the ranks of these terrorists and neutralise their members, however, the ICC and the Amnesty International would immediately raise the red flag alleging all manners of human rights abuses which are most times fabricated to suit their aims of perpetrating or sustaining mayhem in Nigeria.

They at one time accuse the Nigerian of forceful conscription of underaged soldiers which turned out to be false.

Some opposition politicians in Nigeria having noticed the tendency of these organisations to side with the enemies of Nigeria have keyed into the process and have begun to use them to pursue their subversive agenda.

These politicians have, for instance, sponsored protests against the Federal Government based on the belief that these organisations would support them.

We were not surprised therefore that during the EndSARS protest, people began to defy the laws of the land by attacking innocent citizens and destroying public property without remorse.

This was because they were misled into believing that once these organisations are behind them, that the government of Nigeria would be blackmailed into not taking any actions against them.

When the Nigerian Government moved to save the lives of innocent citizens and to stop the mayhem, the ICC caused some persons to file petitions to it and quickly opened what it called preliminary findings against the Nigerian military.

There are indications that the ICC is about to release a report to indict Nigeria military chiefs based on these fictitious allegations.

Based on these, we make bold to say that the ICC and Amnesty International are pursuing terrorist agenda in Nigeria and we have no iota of doubt that they are out to destabilize the nation.

We also have it on good authority that they are currently fabricating more lies, falsehood and mischief to deploy against the military hierarchy in Nigeria just to ensure that Nigerian troops are demoralised and frustrated in the war against insurgency in the Northeast.

This is also to compel many of our troops to abandon the armed forces and go AWOL for fear of being prosecuted at The Hague so that the terrorists who have been put in check would begin to have a field day.

ICC AND AI, LEAVE US ALONE

We call on the international community to call on the ICC and Amnesty International to leave Nigeria and Nigerians alone.

What they are doing is tantamount to playing with the lives of about 200 million people and this is unacceptable.

How come it is only Nigeria that the AI and ICC always try to undermine?

Where was the ICC and AI when the Chadian president led his troops to annihilate over a thousand of the Boko Haram terrorists within a week and expelled them from his country?

Many Nigerians are at a loss what the interest of these two organisations are as they always try to find faults with the operations of the Nigerian military even when it has been acknowledged as one of the most professional in the world.

The Nigerian Army has even set up a desk for citizens to report any cases of human right abuse by any of its men or officers just to ensure its men stay in line, yet these organisations are not satisfied.

We don’t want both the ICC and AI on our shores anymore as they have shown that their interests lie with the enemies of Nigeria.

We, as a people are civilised enough to know what is good for us and we know that our troops are doing well in fighting insurgency, terrorism and banditry.

They should therefore take their meddlesomeness elsewhere and leave us alone.