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2023: Military under pressure to compromise elections — Gen. Irabor
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, on Thursday said that there is constant pressure for the military to compromise the 2023 election.
The military chief stated this in a chat with journalists at the 61st session of the State House Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
He however assured Nigerians that the military will remain neutral throughout the process of picking a successor for President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said military personnel face pressure through inducements, but the armed forces would remain apolitical as it is taking the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the directive of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to maintain neutrality.
Irabor explained that officers are being trained to be more professional even as the rules of engagement have been codified for distribution before, during and after the elections.
He said several military rescue operations and negotiations have led to the freeing of at least 300,000 people from the hands of their abductors since 2014 while refugees who fled the North-East due to insurgency, have started to return.
He said that former insurgents, now being trained, would graduate in February next year before their reintegration into the society. He added that the military is recruiting more personnel into all branches of the security services.
The goal, Irabor said, is to increase the number of on-the-ground personnel to combat insurgency and banditry and curtail oil theft which will eventually lead to increased crude oil production.
