The Nigerian Army says it has uncovered a plan by some foreign media in partnership with collaborators in Nigeria to undermine ongoing operations to end insurgency in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman.
Usman said the plot was to be executed via another false claim of human rights violation by troops in operation.
He said the development was unfortunate and capable of frustrating the efforts of the military, while reiterating that troops and their commanders in the frontline would remain focused.
According to Usman, the Nigerian Army would like to reiterate and renew its commitment to upholding human rights principles and practice.
Usman said, “It has come to our knowledge that some foreign media, Non-governmental Organisations and some of their Nigerian affiliates are about to start making false claims of human rights violations by the Nigerian Army.
“It is clear that these groups and their collaborators are not happy with the progress made in the efforts to solve the security problems bedeviling our nation as manifested in the terrorists’ activities.
“The implication of such act is that it is capable of thwarting the gains in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.”
The acting Army spokesman described the sponsors of the new plot to discredit the army as “unscrupulous, unpatriotic and driven by material and pecuniary gains rather than the well-being of Nigerians.”
He said the Nigerian Army had been protecting human rights and would not be party to any breach in Nigeria or during any of the military operations.
He, however, stressed that the army would not give in to antics that were calculated at frustrating ongoing efforts to liberate parts of the North-East plagued by the Boko Haram insurgency.
“We would not condone any human rights abuses.
“Where there are allegations of human rights violation by any individual or group, this would be thoroughly investigated and those found guilty would be brought to book in accordance with extant laws.
“Therefore, the Nigerian Army would not succumb to blackmail and neither would it be distracted from its determined effort of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation and safeguarding the security of its citizens,” Usman said.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had recently received commendations from notable figures and organisations around the world for the level of professionalism exhibited by troops in the frontline
