General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, has said it is not right for Nigerians to disparage the personnel of the country’s military in the light of the details of the recently submitted report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting.
This has elicited a lot of reactions, with many Nigerians calling for stringent punishments to be handed out to the indicted officers of the Nigerian Army.
Responding on Tuesday to the reactions, Irabor said he cannot make any informed comment until he sees the report and its White Paper is issued by the Lagos State government.
The Defence Chief, however, insisted that the Nigerian military does not engage in dishonourable activities, adding that Nigerians should not denigrate their own armed forces.
“Whether it’s a true report, I can’t tell. But I will like to indicate that the normal procedure is to have such a report submitted to the convening authority,” Irabor said while fielding questions from journalists at an event in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
“Then, there will be a white paper presented based on which one can then make informed comment.
“But whatever it is, currently, I will like to indicate that the armed forces of Nigeria is a professional armed forces which remain committed to constitutional mandate.
“If there are issues, of course, we’ll address them within the ambit of the divisions.
“It will not be right to disparage men and women who have worked so hard to ensure that the territorial integrity of the nation is kept intact.
“So, until I see the full report, I may not be able to say anything. But I can assure you that the armed forces of Nigeria are well disciplined and do not engage in ignoble acts.”
Discussion about this post