Army donates anti-bomb equipment to churches, mosques

Nigerian Army on Thursday donated vehicle stoppers
to churches and mosques as part of measures to
protect places of worship against terrorist attacks,
the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Army Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Maj.-Gen.Bitus
Kwaji, while handing over the equipment to some
churches and mosques leaders in Abuja, said the
gesture was part of Army's corporate social
responsibility.
Kwaji said the equipment could stop vehicles that
come in contact with it from any direction, saying,
"the innovation is simple and effective''.
He said the Army produced 18 of the equipment to
be distributed to places of worship within the Federal
Capital Territory.
He said, "It has been discovered that most attacks by
suicide bombers are carried out with vehicles loaded
with Improvised Explosive Devices.
"This mode of operation is simple as a suicide
bomber drives his vehicle straight into his target and
explosion occurs.
"In order to stop bombers from reaching their
targets, this invention comes in handy as it forcibly
stops any vehicle that comes in contact with it at
whatever speed."
He said the equipment was designed in response to
the challenge by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-
Gen.Azubuike Ihejirika.
Kwaji regretted the security challenges facing the
country had continued to hinder its progress.
Army Director of Policy, Maj-Gen. Richard Chioba,
said the equipment had been "tested in other
countries and it worked".
He said corporate bodies interested in the device
were free to mass produce it to secure their
organisations.
Chioba said the donation of the equipment was to
ensure that lives and property of the citizens were
protected.
The Executive Secretary of the Abuja National
Mosque Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, expressed
joy at the development.
Also, Rev. Chukwuemeka Okonkwo of the Methodist
Diocese of Nyanya said the gesture had indicated
that the Federal Government and the Army were
bothered by the situation.
He said, "We believe that with this and other devices
revealed to us, there will be peace and security of
lives in the nation.''