Reuters allegation against Nigerian military mere rhetoric, says Army Chief
At the resumed hearing of the Special Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter Insurgency Operations in the North East (SIIP NE) today, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, appeared to testify before the panel on Reuters allegation of human rights violations perpetrated by the military in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East
In response to the allegation, the Army Chief described it as mere rhetoric and research from textbooks.
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He stated that the Nigerian Army is highly professional and has made a name for itself even before the insurgency operation, citing examples of its role in ECOMOG and other UN operations.
Lieutenant General Yahaya emphasized that the Nigerian Army will be celebrating its 160th year this year, saying the army has not existed for this long for fun.
According to him the allegations made by Reuters are lies that should not be told against the Nigerian Army openly in its own country. It is unfortunate that Reuters does not know that the Nigerian Army has its core value of loyalty, integrity, courage, and respect for others.
The Army Chief said “We are not a mercenary army that came to Nigeria to work in Nigeria, it is we are Nigerian army working for Nigeria, there are over 2001 NGOs including international NGOs who are there and see what we do.
