*As more Nigerians insist military deserves encouragement, not politicisation like type of Amnesty International
*Opposition unrelenting evil campaigns against our military efforts in futility – Concern Citizens
“We were all in this country when soldiers were running from Boko Haram at battle front into neighbouring Cameroon because the same people in government who sent them to war front did not support them with weapons. But today we have never seen any soldier who has run away from war with Boko Haram and yet we have people who, if Buhari did not suddenly become converted democrat, should either be in jail or sentenced to death still have the temerity to say soldiers now under Buhari are not equipped. How?” The concerned citizen, who refused to be identified, said in solidarity with the Army.
The Nigerian Army has responded to insinuations and claims that it was using obsolete weapons to fight Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, describing such claims as effort by some unpatriotic elements in the country to dampen the morale of troops for political reasons.
It dismissed the claims as part of the on-going propaganda campaigns against the military and vowed to continue to fight the insurgents until the battle is won irrespective of all challenges.
Its response was however contained on its social media pages to counter series of videos in circulation at recent times alleging that soldiers were bitterly complaining in respect of their welfare and equipment handed them to fight the insurgents.
“Boko Haram terrorists are not better equipped than the Nigerian Army.
“Nigerian Army is the pride of the nation,” the army said on one of its social media pages.
In a recent video following the Metele attacks, a soldier had lamented: “Many of our men have died. We have to go home. If Nigeria is ready, they can call us back to fight those idiots (terrorists).
“But we do not have adequate weapons to fight them. We are going home to be with our families. Weapons make a soldier. Without weapons, you are not a soldier.”
But the army maintained that such claims were untrue, insisting that its men were given superior weapons to fight the terrorists.
“Fake news, false publication, hate speech and terrorist propaganda cannot deter our resolve from protecting our nation. No retreat, no surrender. Victory is sure,” it asserted
The DEFENDER’s investigations however confirmed that, in truth, the troops at the battle fronts say their morale is high and that they are good to go ensuring that Nigeria is secured from the dark agents wanting to put law abiding Nigerians in perpetual state of jeopardy and insecurity.
This media organization reports that those politicizing the war against insurgency in the country, with claims some troops are complaining against anything, are spreading misinformation as investigations found out that they were in 2018 still spreading photos, audio and video tapes of what happened at a time politicians in power diverted fund appropriated for fighting insurgency into private pockets thereby putting soldiers in jeopardy.
One of the concerned citizens who spoke to our reporter said that, “If for any reason some politicians are talking now that our soldiers are not equipped and are also hungry, any sane person should know that such claim cannot be far from wicked propaganda just to provide ground for mutiny that will make President Muhammadu Buhari sack his Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who they have always wanted to be sacked. It is what they also do with Amnesty International and others.
“And when this COAS is sacked, believe me, they will make sure they compromise whoever will be appointed and so they bring down democracy because the government in power today has continued to insist on giving back Nigeria from the self acclaimed few owners of the past to the rightful owners who are the masses of the Nigerian people now.
“So, I will only urge the Nigerian Army and the entire military forces not to be bothered by all of those ungrateful attitude of people who are desperate to rule Nigeria after they had been removed because they mismanaged the first 16 years we gave them to rule our lives and they made our lives unbearable.
“We the people of Nigeria are behind you our military and every day you are at this battle, just remember that, yes there are some people spreading evil and lies against you in ensuring that the war will not finish under this government so that they will have reason to campaign, what you should always remember is that we that are providing support and encouragement to you are far more than those wicked souls.
“We were all in this country when soldiers were running from Boko Haram at battle front into neighbouring Cameroon because the same people in government who sent them to war front did not support them with weapons. But today we have never seen any soldier who has run away from war with Boko Haram and yet we have people who, if Buhari did not suddenly become converted democrat, should either be in jail or sentenced to death still have the temerity to say soldiers now under Buhari are not equipped. How?” The concerned citizen, who refused to be identified, said in solidarity with the Army.
Another post on the Nigerian Army twitter said: “NA has noted with great concern concerted efforts by some unpatriotic elements to politicise and derail the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country. This is manifested in the recent systematic releases and recycling of old BHT propaganda video clips.”
