Military not aiding, profiting from terrorism, says DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has challenged the Governor of Katsina state, Dikko Radda, to substantiate his allegation that the military was profiting and aiding terrorism in the state.
It said it is subservient to all elected government representatives whom it held in utmost respect to make such weighty allegations.
The Military high command said this through the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, in a statement on Wednesday, May 22.
The governor had alleged, during an interview on Channels television programme ‘Politics Today’ on April 5, that the Military was aiding and profiting from terrorism.
But Gen. Buba said even though such statements weren’t true, it was capable of demoralizing and dampening the spirit of troops in operational theaters.
“In the light of the aforementioned statement of His Excellency the Governor of Katsina State, the Armed Forces of Nigeria decides not to join words with the state Governor, rather would encourage him to approach the military high command to substantiate his allegations,” he said.
The defence spokesperson said the military under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had zero tolerance for indiscipline and any form of criminality in the conduct of operations across the country.
He said: “It is for this reason that there are standing court martials to treat any form of misbehaviour by troops especially those that portray the military negatively to the general populace.
“The military remains unperturbed by such statements capable of demoralizing or dampening the spirit of troops in operational theatres. Rather, we will continue on the trajectory of conducting operations as well as working assiduously in the fight against terrorism.
“The Armed Forces is for Nigerians and as such citizens are urged to own it and also report any credible observed bad conduct within the ranks so that they can face the appropriate military justice system.”
