Go After Boko Haram, Bandits Not Agitators – Ijaw Groups Tell COAS

• Says Dokubo, Igboho, others no threat

Following his threat to go after so-called non-state actors, some Ijaw communities have challenged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, to channel military resources toward ridding Nigeria of Boko Haram terrorist and bandits.

According to the Ijaw communities, instead of threatening Biafran and Oduduwa agitators such as Asari Dokubo and Sunday Igboho who are no risk to the country, the Military should focused more on urgent matters of protecting the state against insurgents.

The Ijaw communities, acting on the platform of Movement for Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities (MOSIEND), warned that any move against the duo would further heat up the polity and escalate tension nationwide.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, President of MOSIEND, Kennedy Tonjo-West, said instead of dissipating energy and resources pursuing Igboho and Dokubo, the Nigerian army should concentrate on mobilising to defeat Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and armed herdsmen in the country.

Mr West said the Military cannot dabble into civil and constitutional matters of secession and self-determinism which should sorely be left for the Ministry of Justice and Nigeria police to handle.

The MOSIEND boss said the army would only distract itself from the Presidential mandate of clearing out insurgency and banditry from the country if it begins to run after activists such as Dokubo and Igboho.

“Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru’s promotion and appointment as the Chief of Army Staff is seen as a commendable one as he has the requisite training and capacity to contain and exterminate Boko Haram, armed herdsmen and bandits across the country”, he said

Tonjo-West further submitted that; “The principle of secession and self-determination is a constitutional and legal matters hence, the proper person to make statement on the issue is Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, who is the chief legal officer of the Federation and not the COAS.”

He said the Army Chief must therefore draw the line as not to over-step his bounds in a purely constitutional matter.