By Joy Baba
Authorities of the Nigerian Army have assured Nigerians that if there is any factual case of corruption or dereliction of duty against any of its officers or soldiers, such complains will be promptly investigated and decisively acted upon with visible results.
To this end, the authorities have call for constructive criticism which will result to better service to citizens from members of the public.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brigadier-General Olajide Laleye, stated this yesterday at the Army headquarters Abuja while intimating journalists on the latest developments in the Army.
Laleye said the war on terrorism is a global war that evokes citizens’ civic responsibility, adding that we all have role in this war.
He called on the media not to deride the military as no country in the world diminishes it armed forces rather uphold their national security first.
According to him, “If a section of our media and sympathizers of Boko Haram propagate the invincibility of the terrorists, to whose good does it achieve? If a section of the Nigerian media is used to discredit her armed forces, who will prosecute the war?
“There needs to be a change in the media’s handling of this war on terrorism”, he said.
The DAPR further said the Nigerian Army, as part of its annual man power requirement will begin recruitment exercise for able-bodied Nigerian men as from next month, noting that those taken will be ready to serve their fatherland in the north-eastern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the military authorities have described as totally false, reports making the rounds that at least nine serving Generals in the Nigerian Army and other senior military officers are currently being investigated for allegedly supplying arms to members of the Boko Haram sect.
The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, told our reporter yesterday.
Olukolade said such false reports are alarmist and intended to discredit the military institution adding that it has serious security implications.
According to Olukolade “This report claiming 9 generals are to be tried for arms deal with terrorists is totally false & unduly alarmist. Apart from the serious security implication, the impression here is that this is intended to scandalise the Nigerian military and further the unfair campaign aimed at discrediting the institution”.
It will be recalled that some media recently reported that nine military officers under investigation for allegedly supplying arms to Boko Haram and that the Nigerian military authorities would soon unveil the affected officers to the general public as soon as it concludes its internal checks.
The report also said that their arraignment was being delayed at the moment because of the current battle to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
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