Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army has yesterday denied sending troops of Operation Lafiya Dole to deliberately die in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast. Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Texas Chukwu in a statement on Friday said Dr. Idris Ahmed’s allegations that; “A fictitious patriotic soldier at the war front has alleged among other things that some senior officers connived and set up soldiers to give weapons to Boko Haram terrorists.” “The soldiers systematically give the weapons to terrorists to dislodge 800 soldiers, killing hundreds of them is false.” He said the Army and military have clearly established procedures for its daily administrations, including the deployment of troops to fight the ongoing war. According to him, it is very callous and irresponsible for any person to imagine that seniour army officers could treasonable connive with any terrorist or set up any soldier. Continuing, Chukwu added: “That the allegation against Commander 707 Special Forces Brigade deployed 150 untrained soldiers at Gashigar only exists in the figment of Dr. Ahmed’s imagination. There was no such deployment on Thursday, August 23, 2018 or location. “It is equally not true that throughout the history of 707 Special Forces Brigade has suffered any number of its casualties in any of its deployments across the country,” “As a matter of fact, they were proven to be game changers in the fight against terrorism and insurgency, as well as against bandits and armed militias in the Northeast, Northwest, and North-central parts of the country.” He explained that the peace and security being enjoyed in Benue, Taraba, and Niger states bear testimony to troops’ exploits. He said it is utterly untrue that 15 soldiers of the Army are sharing a single room anywhere in the country, let alone in Azare, Bauchi state. According to him, troops’ welfare has been given topmost priority; like what obtains under the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai. “The facts are there for all to see and verified,” he said. He added that the Azare barracks is one of the newly established ones with modern accommodations and facilities. On 707 Special Forces Commander, he said: “The Commander is brave, courageous, patriotic, honest and has the welfare of his troops at heart. “It is therefore precipitous and thoughtless of anybody to associate him with such unfounded allegations.” He urged the public to disregard all the senseless allegations by Dr. Ahmed. He said that Dr. Ahmed has seven days to either produce evidence to substantiate his allegations with unreserved apologies or face legal action.
