Security
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE Nigerian Army has debunked the report of International Society for Civil Liberty and Rule of Law (Intersociety) alleging that it is aiding and abetting the genocidal activities of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in the South-East zone of the country.
In a statement issued by Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Acting Deputy Director, 82 Division Army Public Relations on Wednesday in Enugu, the Nigerian Army described the report as “a malicious and unfounded allegation”.
The South-East-based NGO had in a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, board chair and other executives of the group, alleged that a former Army Chief of Northern Muslim extraction, had in 2021 charged soldiers to take the war to South-East villages and communities where soldiers are attacked or killed.
It added that since then, “hell has been let loose on defenseless Easterners/South-Easterners and their properties, while same military turn total blind eyes on genocidal activities of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in the East; cuddling and breast-feeding them.”
However, Lt.-Col. Unuakhalu said that the report was only the propaganda by the well-known fifth columnists, who have severally failed in such endeavours.
“Despite the serial failures, these groups are still unrepentant and shamelessly continue in mudslinging, all in a futile effort to drag the image and reputation of the Division in the mud, while promoting irredentists, lawless and outlawed organisations.
“In the said publication, it claimed that Ex GOLDEN DAWN II has gone deaf and dumb.
“However on the contrary, Ex GOLDEN DAWN II AND STILL WATERS II have achieved many successes since its commencement in terms of recovery of arms, ammunition, IED materials and fabrication workshop, which was published by both mainstream and online medium on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.
“The Exercise has also halted the activities of the proscribed group, little wonder INTERSOCIETY has to come up with all these fabricated lies with no sense of balanced reportage.
“It was also reported in a trending Facebook and twitter posts that the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division was posted from Kaduna to Enugu. This is just a figment of the writer’s imagination as the General Officer Commanding was posted from 81 Division, Lagos, and has at no time been in Kaduna,” the statement said.
It added that Enugu State is one of the most peaceful states in the South-East so it is surprising that all these allegations are targeted at Enugu, which is a direct pointer to creating fear among the populace.
KN
Tags: Col. Jonah Unuakhalu Kennedy Nnamani Nigerian Army
