Okorocha tasks the new army officers on Nigeria’s territorial integrity

NEWLY commissioned officers of the Direct Short Service (DSS) of the Nigeria Army have been charged to defend their profession by strictly defending the nation’s territorial integrity.

Governor Rochas Okorocha gave the charge on Tuesday at the Government House, Owerri, when he hosted the nine Imo State indigenes among those who passed out from the Military Training School, Jaji, on July 4.

They are Lt. E.C Chukwu, C.K Ikechukwu, I.O Madumere, U.K Ahanu, I.M Obi, E.I Nwachukwu, U. C. Ohakwe, D.K Ohiri and A. I. Nwachukwu. He was delighted that they made Imo proud and urged them to contribute their quarter to uplift the nation.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Lt. Chukwu, had said they came to intimate the governor with the development, even as they expressed willingness to serve and defend the nation. He disclosed that among them are medical doctors, laboratory scientists, psychologists and optometrists.

Meanwhile, the Coalition Against Terrorism in Nigeria (COATN) has condemned the relocation Boko Haram detainees to the South-Eastern, warning the Federal Government of possible dire consequences and requesting immediate reversal of the decision.

National coordinator of the group, Dr. Ebenyi Hyacinth, who addressed demonstrators in Anambra State, noted that what started as rumour about two weeks ago about the transfer of 47 detained Islamist terrorists has gained legitimacy.

Describing such action as intolerable and a deliberate move to spread terrorism to Igboland, he said that relocating such inhuman and hardened criminals to a minor prison in Ekwulobia is another conspiracy against the region.

According to him, relocating terrorism suspects to a peaceful Christian-dominated area without a maximum security prison facilities is a poly to destabiliae the area and extend the ongoing insurgency to the south.

He thanked the traders, Okada Riders Association, traditional rulers, governors, pan-Igbo groups and sister-non-governmental bodies for jointly condemning the development. Nevertheless, he sued for peace while the region’s governors pursue a peaceful resolution of the issue with the Federal government.

Likewise, the Ndigbo Youths Organisation frowned at the recent attacks and anti-Ekweremadu campaigns, saying the call for his resignation is unacceptable and an insult to the Igbo race.

In a statement by its secretary-general, Comrade Patrick Afubera, the group urged the Inspector-General of Police not to allow himself be drawn into the politics of the National Assembly leadership, “as we shall resist any attempt to ridicule our leader.”

It noted: “The Igbo are not visitors or passers-by in the Nigerian project, having made more sacrifice than any other tribe or region towards the sustenance of a united Nigeria. As such, we cannot and will not be relegated to the back stage.
“Again, the recent transfer of Boko Haram suspects to prisons in the South-East is a clear attempt to move insurgency to the region, as there is no logic in moving suspects on awaiting trial or whose trials are ongoing to detention centres outside the jurisdiction of the court.”