Closure of Banex Plaza in order – Ex-CDS Irabor
General Lucky Irabor (retd.) says that he supports the closure of the Banex Plaza by the military. TheCornet had reported how some persons assaulted two soldiers, as captured in a video that went viral last Saturday. Since the incident took place, soldiers have shut and taken over the expansive business premises, located in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
Irabor, who appeared as a guest on Arise Television breakfast show, said that it would be “inappropriate” if he fails to condemn the incident, particularly given the level he attained in the army.
“The Bane Plaza incident is a very sad one,” he said.
“When you see a soldier in uniform whether armed or not, and you raise your hands against that individual or even any uniformed person, for as long as he is an agent of the state, any attack on him is an attack on the state,” Irabor stated.
He added: “Every Nigerian must condemn such act. I join to support the closure of Banex Plaza for as long as it takes to have anyone that is responsible for that dastardly act to be brought to justice.”
According to the former CDS, “if we fail to do so (prosecute the offenders), then of course we are calling for anarchy.”
As a recommendation, Irabor said: “The public needs to be reconscientized (sic) to understand the place of national security and the responsibility of each and every of one of us in preserving the sanctity of our various establishments that seek to make us live in a safe environment.”
The Nigerian Army had said, in a statement issued by its spokesperson Major general Onyema Nwachukwu, that an investigation was ongoing.
He also urged the public to show “restraint” in their dealings with “uniformed personnel.”
- Adeola Atanda
