By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Nigerian Army (NA) has distanced itself from an online video footage making the rounds in the social media, showing some persons in military fatigue torturing and mutilating an individual.
Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement on Monday said the video footage is capable of deceiving unsuspecting members of the public into believing that the men in the footage are members of the NA, engaged in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North East.
He described it as a deliberate effort to promote a culture of violence in the society by creating an erroneous impression that it is a legitimate action by troops.
The statement said “it is therefore crucial to refute and properly inform the public on the said footage.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the said footage has been on the social media for quite a long time and is not originated by troops of the NA. Very importantly, the uniform of NA troops deployed in the North East is the Nigerian Desert Camouflage, while that of other operations around the country is the Nigerian Woodland Camouflage. Evidently, the military fatigue worn by the criminals is a far variation from the uniforms adorned by own troops in the various theatres of operation.
“The NA therefore, wishes to clearly inform the general public that the video being circulated does not have any connection with its operations. Those in the footage are not troops of the NA and do not represent any operation of the NA. The video is circulated by mischievous elements aiming to tarnish the good image and reputation of the NA, in order to create mistrust in the minds of the public.
“It must be reiterated that as a responsible organisation, the NA conducts its operational activities in line with extant rules of engagement and respect for fundamental human rights.
“The NA therefore wishes to distance itself from the outrageous video and reassure the public that the NA under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya will continue to discharge its roles of securing the territorial integrity of the nation and aid to civil authority professionally and in consonance with extant laws and international best practice.”
