Ihejirika Debunks Reported Arrest By DSS

The former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika, (rtd.), has debunked his purported arrest by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

THISDAY authoritatively confirmed that Ihejirika was not apprehended nor invited by the DSS as was reported in some online medium.

A very reliable source close to the former army chief denied the report saying that Ihejirika was in the country and at home “relaxing”.

An online medium had claimed that the former COAS was arrested late last night at hi residence in Maitama, Abuja, in connection with the arms purchase scandal for which several former military and political chiefs are currently undergoing investigation or trial, among them the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

This was however debunked as a complete hoax by a confidant of the former army chief who expressed shock at the report.

“I am really amazed at the length people are determined to go to tarnish the image of the former army chief. As I am speaking to you, the chief who just returned from his village is in his house.

“What I don’t understand is how and why they orchestrated these fables and for what purpose. I think the intention of these people is to draw the attention of the federal government to the fact that Ihejirika has not been arrested,” the source said.

According to the source, “What people don’t know is that this government would not have wasted time in arresting Ihejirika from the word go if he was guilty all this while.”

Another source who also spoke to THISDAY on the development debunked the allegations peddled against Ihejirika.

The very senior military officer, noted that this is the umpteenth time, propaganda and falsehood are being peddled against Ihejirika without any iota of truth.

The officer noted that if left for the way some media and forces feeding them the false information, the former COAS would have been dead by now.

“Remember that this is not the first of such numerous false arrests, if not EFCC today, it’s arms procurement tomorrow, the army the next and now DSS. You should also remember the frivolous allegation by the Australian Steve Davies,” the source noted.

According to the source, what people against Ihejirika could not come to bear “is how come some of the other service chiefs has been indicted and yet he is free. It baffles them to say the least and they are not relenting.