The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a
deliberate and calculated attempt to drag the name of the Nigerian Army and
indeed the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai into
disrepute through a fabricated news story based on an imaginary complaint by a
fictitious soldier of the Nigerian Army on an online news medium, naij.com,
titled "Buratai exploits us, steals our money and throw us away-Nigerian
soldiers."
Their allegations were so generalized without any specifics.
Because it was a deliberate hatchet man’s job, they failed to state basic
information about when, where and how the fictitious soldier was shortchanged
and the steps taken before going to the press.
Over time, the medium was fond of such publications without
giving the Nigerian Army the benefit of doubt.
In the write up, the medium made all manner of absurd
allegations using most uncivilized language. This is wrong and unethical and
goes contrary to all known ethics of the journalism profession.
It is imperative to unequivocally state that all the
contents of that news piece were far from the truth. The Nigerian Army and the
Chief of Army Staff take pride in the comfort and general well being of troops
wherever they might be. It is therefore very wicked and unimaginable for anyone
to allege otherwise. The Chief of Army Staff since assumption of command on
15th July 2015 has made probity and accountability his hallmark and has left no
one in doubt on transparency and accountability and would not tolerate anyone
doing otherwise.
In their efforts to smear the Nigerian Army and Lieutenant
General Buratai, they failed to take into account that the Nigerian Army does
not have hand in the release of funds for payment of allowances and
remunerations of troops on Peacekeeping Operations, and as such, the situation
they were talking about does not even arise.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Defence through
the Defence Headquarters is responsible for foreign operations and troops
allowances are paid according to availability of funds and schedule of payment
given by the Defence Headquarters. The last one received has been credited into
the respective troops accounts.
Therefore, Nigerian Army troops on various peacekeeping and
other operations have to the best of our knowledge been paid up to date as
released by Ministry of Defence through the Defence Headquarters.
We want to assure the general public that the Nigerian Army
will remain focused and never to be distracted from it’s noble cause of
defending and securing the country from all forms of criminality.
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