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.’’

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