Army alleges plot to sabotage anti-insurgency war

MILITARY authorities yesterday said it has uncovered a plot by some foreign media in partnership with their collaborators in Nigeria to undermine ongoing campaign to end Boko Haram terror in the north eastern part of the country.

Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, in a statement yesterday said the plot was to be executed through false claim of human rights violation by troops in operation.

Usman, who said the development was unfortunate and capable of frustrating the efforts of the military, reiterated the determination of the gallant troops and their commanders in the frontline to 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 their Nigerian affiliates are about to start making false claims of human rights violations by the Nigerian Army.

He added, “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 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 insisted that 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,” the Army mouthpiece said.

Usman however, assured that 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.