By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
There have been concerns in different quarters as to whether the 2023 General elections will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, owing to the nefarious activities of terrorists and bandits in various parts of the country despite assurances by the Federal Government to nip insecurity in the bud.
In spite of the worsening security situation in the country, Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, has assured Nigerians that the 2023 general elections will hold.
Speaking at a media parley on Tuesday at the defence headquarters in Abuja, General Irabor said the military will do everything possible to ensure that nothing stops the poll from holding and reiterated the commitment of the military to protecting democratic ideals in the country.
He said, the military has made a covenant to protect Nigeria’s democracy and has not changed its position hence it will not relent in its duties.
The parley, aimed at soliciting the support of media organisations towards tackling security challenges in the country, is the second in the series of engagements between the chief of defence staff and media executives and editors in Nigeria.
The Chief of Defence Staff, also disclosed that security operatives have arrested some suspected terrorists that were linked to the terror attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Though he did not mention their names,or the number of persons arrested, he said the attackers were arrested during a joint operations involving the Armed Forces, the Department of Security Services (DSS) and the police.
The arrest is coming about two months after gunmen stormed the church, killing about 40 worshippers.
