Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said the declaration of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) as a Terrorist organisation was not borne out of pressure
Buratai said the Army, being a product of the democratic governance, was only carrying out one of its constitutional responsibilities
He made this known in an interview with journalists at the ongoing 2nd and 3rd COAS quarterly conference holding in Abuja but however noted that the Federal government would have to take a final decision on whether or not the IPOB is a terrorists organisation.
Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has called the declaration unconstitutional saying due process must be followed to label the group terrorists.
Buratai, who maintained that the army was under no pressure as was being speculated in some quarters said, “You see you said political pressure, you should understand the context by which the Nigerian Army is operating.
“The Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system. It is part of the democratic process, it is a product of the democratic governance.
“We are not under any pressure, we are doing what the constitution has provided constitutionally for us as our responsibilities.
“So we are not under any pressure whatsoever. There are several provisions that gives us those responsibilities and also to carry out such task as duly assigned by the government or by the constituted authority. Be rest assured that we don’t have any other role that is outside the constitution.”
“As regards the proscription, this is what I have to say: the Federal government will take a final decision on that”, he said of the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist group.
“There are guidelines as provided in the Act on the terrorism Act and am sure the relevant government agencies will take appropriate the steps whether to arrest or whether to do any other actions and we will receive the appropriate directives from the authorities”.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had, last Friday, declared the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB), as a “militant and terrorists organization and called on parents, unsuspecting parents not to allow their children to be brainwashed into joining the organization”.
Director, Defence information, Major-General John Enenche, who made the declaration in a statement issued in Abuja reiterated the determination of the armed forces to deal with all security challenges in the country.
Enenche, had in the statement listed some actions, of IPOB, which includes formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guards, unauthorized blocking of public access roads, to portray the group as a terrorists organization and nothing more.
“From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation. Therefore, parents and particularly unsuspecting residents of the South East and other Nigerians should advice their wards to desist from joining the group.”
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