The Nigerian Army (NA) has debunked “a recent false publication” by certain online media outlets against the leadership of Depot NA Army.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Depot Nigerian Army, Captain Kela Babale, said, the unbalanced and misleading news reflects the ill-intent of these online media sources to “demoralize our recruits and soldiers through spurious and baseless claims”.
TheFact Daily gathered that the online news agency had on Tuesday reported that some recruits who spoke exclusively to them, alleged that they were forced daily to go into the bush to look for dried corn leaves for the Commander’s cattle.
“Every day, about 50 soldiers move from farm to farm to gather dried corn leaves for his (Abdullahi) cows (numbering about 60), and the soldiers must fill two trailers with these dried corn leaves every day,” one of the affected soldiers was said to have told the news medium.
The news medium, quoted the soldier saying that the Commandant “even dedicated a field that was formally used for training recruits for his cows, adding that grasses are being planted there so that the cows will eat them when they grow. In fact, he can’t stay a day without checking on those cows. Even if nobody eats in the depot, so long as the cows have eaten, he’s okay.”
Refuting the report, the NA averred that Depot NA is a revered training institution responsible for transforming civilians into professional soldiers, adding that the institution is currently conducting training for recruits.
It said that however, that the prevailing economic challenges and surge in commodity prices have necessitated the stocking of food supplies and livestock to sustain the nutritional needs of the recruits.
“It is imperative to emphasize that Depot NA not only recognizes the importance of maintaining the standard of nutrition for our recruits but also understands the positive impact on their performance and overall morale during training. Accordingly, the provision of food and care for the livestock is meticulously managed to ensure a balanced diet for our recruits, while also extending similar considerations to our trainers through the Barracks Investment and Initiative program. This initiative facilitates affordable livestock and irrigation farming within designated areas of the cantonment to benefit our personnel”, the NA said.
The NA therefore urged the disregard by the public, of any misinformation regarding the feeding and welfare of recruits and soldiers as it is a calculated effort by mischief makers to cause distraction and disharmony within Depot NA, adding that “the unfounded report is a gross misrepresentation and seeks to undermine the positive initiatives and plans put in place for the personnel of Depot NA”.
The depot, located in Zaria has been used by the army for the training of Nigerian Army recruits since its establishment in 1924.
