The Nigerian Army has reacted to allegations by the International Society for Civil Liberty and Rule of Law, otherwise known as InterSociety, that the military especially the Army was working with armed herdsmen/bandits to terrorize the eastern part of the country and Benue State.
Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement on Saturday, in Abuja, dismissed the allegations.
The Army spokesperson accused InterSociety of penchant to drag the image and reputation of the NA in the mud, while promoting irredentists, lawless and outlawed organizations. He therefore described the claim that the Army is collaborating with armed herdsmen as bogus and unsubstantiated, with the sole aim of destabilizing the nation.
Nwachukwu further accused InterSociety of bias considering that it has never openly condemned the atrocious activities of IPOB/ ESN, for which it is fronting, but “would rather turn a blind eye, when these groups illegally deny law abiding citizens their rights to freedom of movement and association through their illegal sit-at-home order, the attack on military, police, paramilitary personnel and other security agencies, the attack and callous beheading of Nigerians including ndigbo, the destruction of government facilities and infrastructure, amongst myriads of other nefarious activities”.
The Nigerian Army while admitting the presence of bad eggs in its fold, like every other organization, maintained that it was actively monitoring and effectively handling such within the provisions of extant laws.
It reiterated its resolve to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, and maintained that it will never be distracted by mischief makers aiming to blackmail and defame the institution for cheap publicity.
The Army in the statement called on InterSociety to channel its energy into nation building, and maintained that it will continue to selflessly carry out its constitutional mandate to defend Nigeria and restore sanity and peace in all troubled parts of the country.
