Extortion: Army Issues Subtle ‘Threat’ To Gov. Zulum, Says ‘Your Allegation Capable Of Reversing The Gains Recorded In Ongoing Fight Against Insurgents’

The Nigerian Army has issued a subtle warning to Borno state governor, Babagana Zulum, who reportedly alleged that soldiers of Operation Lafiya Dole deployed along Maiduguri – Damaturu Road, were extorting commuters, as well as causing them unnecessary hardship.

The army warned that allegation weighty as the one alleged by the State Executive could be counterproductive and indeed capable of reversing the gains recorded so far in the ongoing fight against insurgents and other criminal elements across the nation.

The Nigerian Army stated that as a professional and disciplined institution, it views such allegations seriously, particularly coming from a State Executive, alluding to the fact that there are channels of communication of any observed misconduct by troops instead of making a public outburst.

Army Operations Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Iliyasu, in a statement, said that the allegation was capable of reversing the gains recorded by the Army.

“It is important to unequivocally observe that public outburst particularly by eminent personalities such as a State Executive could be counterproductive and indeed capable of reversing the gains recorded so far in the ongoing fight against insurgents and other criminal elements across the nation.

“The Nigerian Army as a professional and disciplined institution views such allegations seriously, particularly coming from a State Executive.

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“It is on record that, whenever such allegations of troops’ misconduct were made in the past, the Nigerian Army never reneged in conducting thorough investigations to establish them and where any infractions were established against any personnel, appropriate sanctions were applied in line with extant rules and regulations as provided for in the Armed Forces Act CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

“Thus, the Nigerian Army wishes to assure the good people of Borno State and indeed the nation at large that any allegations of misconduct against the Nigerian Army troops will be duly investigated and culprits will be dealt with accordingly.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to emphatically reiterate its steadfastness on the protection of lives, property of all law-abiding citizens as it is committed to wiping out insurgents from the North East and other forms of criminality across the country. Additionally, citizens’ continuous support and cooperation is highly appreciated.

“Any observed misconduct by troops could be reported directly through a toll – free code 193 for immediate remedy,”the statement reads.

Recalls that Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum in the viral video circulating on social media, allegedly accused security personnel of the Nigeria military and police of collecting bribes of N1000 from travellers who do not have national identity cards.

The governor made the accusation when he visited the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway where thousands of travellers were stranded because security officials manning the highway locked it down.

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According to PRNigeria, the highway is relatively the safest access in and out of Maiduguri, despite suffering repeated Boko Haram attacks recently. Upon reaching the Maiduguri entrance checkpoint, located near the Borno State University, the governor met hundreds of vehicles queued up on both sides of the lanes.

“This is unacceptable,” Mr Zulum said speaking on top of his voice.

“How can you subject people to this kind of torture all in the name of National ID card? And you are all here collecting N500 and N1000 from poor travellers who don’t have national ID card.”