Previous attempts to breach the Republic of Fiji Military Forces armoury have come to light, with Government confirming that such incidents are not unprecedented.
Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua acknowledged that similar attempts had occurred before, as he responded to a question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar.
“Attempts were made in the past,” Mr Tikoduadua said, noting that the latest incident underscores the ongoing threat to critical military infrastructure.
While declining to comment on specific details due to ongoing investigations, the Minister said the situation falls within the scope of the National Security Strategy.
“The NSS is the encompassing strategy for events such as this… institutions that are governed under this policy have to react,” he said.
Mr Tikoduadua said the most recent incident served as a real-time test of existing security systems.
“One good thing about the incident that happened is, it actually tested the effectiveness of the electronic systems that were there… to stop any of those attempts,” he said.
He stressed that any attempt to breach an armoury or military magazine is treated as a serious offence.
“Breaches of the armoury or the magazines, or any attempt to do so, is a serious offence and would be repelled at any cost,” he added.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen security frameworks, including work on a new Republic of Fiji Military Forces Defence Act.
The revelation of past attempts has intensified scrutiny on national security preparedness, with authorities maintaining that vigilance and continued system improvements remain critical.
