Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor on behalf of the Nigerian military has dashed the hopes of dreamers of military’s support to any illegal contraption such as the loosely touted Interim National Government {ING}, describing it as unconstitutional, mischievous and utterly untenable.
He gave the position of the Defence Headquarters on the matter, saying that the call for interim government by such misguided persons was unfortunate and misdirected.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the regular bi-weekly briefing of defence correspondents on operational activities of the armed forces military across the country.
Danmadami said that those calling for interim government were just trying to be mischievous, noting that the position of the nation’s constitution was so clear and unambiguous that it did not provide for an interim national government.
“On the issue of interim government, it is rather unfortunate. An election has been conducted and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is mandated has announced a president elect.
“It is not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made from the Presidency that there is nothing like interim national government.
“So I think people were just trying to be mischievous. It is unconstitutional and all of us know that.
“The constitution does not provide for an interim national government and that is the point the Presidency has been hammering on and that is our stand.
“It is unconstitutional, so anything unconstitutional, as far as I am concerned, is not applicable,” he declared.
Major General Danmadami who was joined at the briefing by Acting Director Defence Information, Birgadier General Tukur Gusau also used the event to comment on the assessment by the top military command on the recent general elections in the country. He gave a resounding pass mark to the conduct its officers and men across the country.
According to him, the military’s Operation Safe Conduct which was deployed to give necessary and required aid to police and INEC for the polls exhibited remarkable professional conduct before, during and after the elections, maintaining that the successful conduct would be sustained for the supplementary elections announced by INEC for April 15, 2023.
He also stated that the military would maintain high alert and rapid response to persons thinking of posing obstacles to free polls in the remaining two states where elections were declared inconclusive, pointing out that the military was still working round the clock to ensure peace and security in the country.
“During the brief, we told you the number of people that have been kidnapped and we equally told you the efforts of the military to ensure those kidnapped victims are rescued. We will continue to carry out our responsibility to the best of ability while calling on the civil populace to support us,” he said.
Major General Danmadami also reviewed military’s successful raids on terrorists and criminals in the country in the last two weeks, realing that troops of Operation Delta Safe denied oil robbers about N407.5 million worth of crude in the Niger Delta region.
The DMO helmsman expressed the satisfaction of the top military command that troops recorded significant outcomes in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations conducted in the past two weeks.
He disclosed that troops of Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe and other operations in the South South zone of the country sustained the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region through aggressive patrols, raid, clearance and buggy operations amongst other activities thereby denying the criminals oil worth N407.5 million naira, among other notable achievements.
”Operations were conducted at creeks, towns, water ways, high ways, cities and high seas of Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and River State respectively which yielded appreciable results. Notably, on 23 March 2023, troops responded to human intelligence that revealed movement of arms and ammunition along Rumuola Psychiatric in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Accordingly, troops mobilized to the general area and arrested a suspected gun runner with 3 of his associates. Following the arrest, troops recovered 5 AK47 rifles, 1 AK46 rifle, 3 single barrel pump action gun, 250 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 413 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 11 AK47 magazines, 1 box of 7.62mm NATO rounds, 231 rounds of 7.62mm special, 153 cartridges, 1 solar prime explosive, 1 roll of dextol 29, 10 chargers of dextol 29, 6 K2 rifle magazines, 32 rounds of K2 ammunition, 1 nylon of powdered explosive and 2 AK47 butts among other items at the residence of the suspected gun runner.
“Also, troops on patrol on the 25 March 2023 along Calabar – Ikom general area in Calabar Municipal Area Council of Cross River arrested a suspect at an illegal mining site in the general area and recovered 46 Detonators, 900m of Detonating cord, 1.5kg gun powder, 456 water gel explosive super power 90, 1 generator set, astral submersible pump as well as 1 welding gas cylinder among other sundry items.
“Troops also recovered 2 AK47 rifles and 1 magazine loaded with 16 rounds of 7.62mm special from criminals at Elume Jetty in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. Equally, troops of Operation DELTA SAFE has consolidated its efforts in ensuring a relatively safe and peaceful environment for economic activities to thrive, by denying criminal elements freedom of action in the Joint Area of Operations.
“Consequently, during the weeks in focus troops of operation DELTA SAFE in conduct of Operation OCTOPUS GRIP and other operations discovered and destroyed 50 illegal refining sites, 22 wooden boats, 237 storage tanks, 204 ovens and 30 dugout pits. Troops also recovered 797,000 litres of crude oil, 276,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 500 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosine, 4 pumping machines, 19 vehicles, 6 motorcycles, 1 tricycle, 8 weapons, 18 variety of ammunitions, 1 outboard engine, 2 generators and 1 speed boat, while 26 suspected criminals were also apprehended.
“All items recovered and arrested suspects from the region have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action. It is worth mentioning that the sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Five Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Naira (N407,542,860.00) only were denied oil thieves.”
Danmadami conveyed the military high command’s commendations on the unrelenting efforts of troops and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the country.
Commending the general civil populace and the media community for their partnership and continued cooperation with the military and other security agencies to ensure peace and security in the country, he asked for more understanding.
“Also, the entire populace is hereby appreciated, for the support given to the members Armed Forces and other security agencies in the conduct of our various operations across the country, while also urging them to continue to provide prompt and creditable information on the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements, in their respective areas,” Danmadami said.
