The Nigerian Army may have shunned a Rivers State High Court order restraining it from being part of today’s state and National rerun elections, Punch reports.
A High Court in Rivers State had on Wednesday restrained the Nigerian Army from taking part in the election either by monitoring or supervising the exercise.
Justice George Omereji had in a Suit No. PHC/601/2016, stated, “That an Order of Interim Injunction be and is hereby made restraining the 1st (Hon. Chibuike Amaechi) 5th ( INEC) and 6th ( REC) respondents from the use and deployment of the 2nd (Chief of Defence Staff) 3rd (Chief of Army Staff) and 4th (Brig-Gen. Steve Olabanji) respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants, operatives or privies to conduct, monitor and supervise the state and National Assembly rerun.”
But, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Friday that military deployments were not only for the purpose of elections.
Abubakar said that it was the concern of the military to ensure maintenance of law and order not only in Rivers State but also in the entire country.
He explained that the military was working alongside other agencies to secure the country against thugs and criminals who had the intention of creating insecurity in parts of the country.
Abubakar explained that it was the constitutional responsibility of the military to provide security in the society and to assure the citizenry of the readiness of the security agencies to ensure stability in the society.
According to him, “Military deployments are not just for the purpose of elections. When you say deployments, you should note that the military has a constitutional responsibility to provide security in the society.
“It is also for the purpose of assuring the citizens of their protection by the security agencies. So, military deployments are not only for elections.
“What concerns us is maintenance of total law and order not only in Rivers but also in other parts of the country. We must be seen to be doing that. Our roles are clear as enshrined in our constitution in giving aid to civil authority in any location within our land.
“So the military is not restricted to elections but goes beyond that to ensure safety of lives and property of innocent citizens. We are working for the common purpose of safeguarding our great nation from criminals and thugs who may be bent on creating insecurity in any part of the country and thereby intimidating innocent citizens from their civic responsibilities. We are all Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Friday said the military had commenced investigation into the death of two of its personnel in Rivers State.
He made the statement while addressing troops at the 34 Artillery Brigade headquarters, Obinze, Owerri.
Buratai said, “The situation in the Niger Delta is presently being addressed. The activities of pirates, criminals and bandits will be checked; our troops are fully on ground and they have arrested the situation.
“The unfortunate incident of Thursday in Rivers State is something that we are currently investigating. We will deal with the situation as investigation unfolds in the area.”
THE SIGNALNG
