We Averted Catastrophic Incidents In Abuja, Kano Last Week — CDS

General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), on Sunday revealed how security operatives averted what could have been the most devastating incident in Nigeria’s history.

General Irabor made the dis­closure during his appearance on a Channels Television’s spe­cial programme, ‘Democracy Day: Giving Hope To Nigeri­ans’.

He stated that the catastro­phe was averted in Kano State the same week gunmen opened fire on worshippers at St. Fran­cis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The Chief of Defence Staff stressed that the security situ­ation in Nigeria has improved in the last one year, adding that the incident in Owo does not take away that fact.

“Perhaps you may not know that just only the same week of the Owo incident, in Kano, for example, given the intelligence available to security agencies, we were able to botch what would have been the most cat­astrophic incident within our country”, Irabor said.

Recounting how the pro­cess went, he explained, “In that operation, we re­covered improvised explo­sive devices (IEDs) making materials.

“We recovered a large quan­tum of arms and ammunition and other materials which, of course, the criminals were intending to use in various parts of the country, including Abuja. That the Owo incident happened does not imply that improvements have not hap­pened.

“Let me state that this is a process, and if you could take a look at the war stage in coun­tries around the world, you will find incidents of violence and criminality in one way or the other.”

For General Irabor, the attack is one of the similar crimes perpetrated by terror­ists whom, he said, would be wiped out of the country.

He stressed that the securi­ty forces have been living up to their responsibility in securing the nation, although they are working towards ensuring a crime-free society.

The defence chief solicited the support of Nigerians and relevant stakeholders in tack­ling insecurity and urged them to focus on things that matter.

“I will say that a lot has hap­pened; there’s been quite a lot of improvement in terms of the armed forces and other se­curity agencies doing all that is necessary to bring peace to the various troubled regions of the country.

“I can tell you that from last year till now, we have had quite a lot of improvement; from the North-East to the North-West, North-Central, South-South, South-East and South-West. Of, course, there still remains a long haul in terms of address­ing the nuances that attend to insecurity in Nigeria”, he said.