Darfur hybrid force commander denies assassination attempt
September 29, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – Nigerian Army General Martin Luther Agwai, Commander of the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping force for Darfur refuted reports that he was object of an assassination attempt while in his home country Nigeria.
The Nigerian general said in a press statement issued today that”On the day in question, he was already in Khartoum adding that his attention was drawn to the story by calls from friends and well wishers both at home and abroad.”
However he confirmed that there was an attempted armed robbery incident on General Agwai’s brother whose name is published in the story, he was promptly rescued by assistance from sympathizers, and later from the Nigeria Police as a result, he was not harmed neither was anything taken away from him.
As pointed out in the publication that there have been several robbery incidents in the area in recent times, it is strongly believed that what happened was an isolated case of attempted armed robbery and has nothing to do with the respected General who was already back to Sudan
General Agwai has had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Army spanning thirty-seven years, and undoubtedly enjoys the goodwill of a cross section of Nigerians, as well as several nations and international organizations including the United Nations and the African Union because of his tremendous respect for professionalism and discipline.
(ST)