Army donates anti-bombing devices to churches, mosques (How many mosques have been bombed?)

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Headlines Friday, July 27th, 2012

THE Nigerian Army, on Thursday, in Abuja, donated vehicle-stoppers to churches and mosques as part of measures to protect places of worship against terrorist attacks.

Major-General Bitus Kwaji, Army Chief of Civil Military Affairs, while handing over the devices to some leaders of churches and mosques, said that the gesture was part of the army’s corporate social responsibility.

Kwaji explained that the vehicle-stopper was a unique device that could stop vehicles that came in contact with it from any direction or angle, saying: “`the innovation is simple and effective.

“It has been discovered that most attacks by suicide bombers are carried out with vehicles loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS).

“This mode of operation is simple as a suicide bomber drives his vehicle straight into his target and explosion occurs.

“In order to disallow bombers from reaching their targets, this invention comes in handy as it forcefully stops any vehicle that comes in contact with it at whatever speed,”’ he said.

Kwaji said that the device was simple to understand, adding that churches and mosques could decide to produce more.

Speaking on terrorist attacks, Kwaji said that terrorists over the years had continued to attack places of worship in order to destabilise the nation.

He said that the unfolding security challenges “which is the Boko Haram terrorist menace’’ had continued to hinder the progress of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the development of the nation at large.

According to him, this necessitated the Chief of Army Staff to charge all corps and services of the army to provide ways and means of curtailing the menace.

Kwaji said that the personnel took the charge by the army chief to heart by looking at various ways and means of curtailing insecurity in the country.

“I am reminding all that security is everybody’s business and the entire citizenry should join hands with the army in making the country safe for all to live,”’ he added.

The Army Director of Policy, Major-General Richard Chioba, said that the equipment had been tested in other countries and it worked.

Chioba said that the donation of the device by the army was in line with effort to ensure that lives and property of the citizens were protected.

Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, the Executive Secretary of the Abuja National Mosque Management, expressed joy at the development.

“We are happy with what the military authorities are doing to beef up security in places of worship,’’ he said.

He added that it was an excellent and commendable effort to ensure the protection of lives and property in view of the current security challenges in all places of worship and gatherings.

Also, Reverend Chukwuemeka Okonkwo of the Methodist Diocese of Nyanya said that the gesture had indicated that the Federal Government and the army were bothered by the situation.

Okonkwo said that from recent events, the situation had been given the military sleepless nights, adding that they were happy for the gesture shown by the army.

“We believe that with this and other devices revealed to us, there will be peace and security of lives in the nation,’’ he said.

via Tribunewp_posts