Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika is disappointed with reports of alleged ethnic cleansing and victimisation in the Nigerian Army and will appropriately address the matter next week, new spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said on Monday.
Since last November when twin Boko Haram bomb attacks at Jaji Military Cantonment triggered posting of senior officers, a section of the media has raised an alarm, accusing the Army Chief of giving his kinsmen juicy appointments. Violations of the Army Council directives since Ihejirika’s emergence as the COAS have also been accused.
The Army authorities have, on several occasions, faulted the allegations, including those made by Jama’atu Nasiru Islam but they have notwithstanding stuck, prompting the new army spokesman to disclose that Gen Ihejirika would address the issue on Monday.
Attahiru, the new Director, Army Public Relations Department, gave the assurance while taking over from Major General Bolaji Koleosho, who has moved as the Chief of the Civil-Military Affairs.
“The Army authorities are aware of the adverse media reports and my answer for now is that the Chief of the Army Staff would address members of the press on 11th February and this issue would properly be addressed.
Earlier, while handing over, General Koleosho had acknowledged the support, understanding and comradeship he enjoyed from the media during his tenure and appealed for similar support for his successor.
Responding, the new Army spokesman appealed to the media to crosscheck facts from his office on any story regarding the Army before going to the press. He promised to operate an open-door policy and ensure that journalists have access to accurate information on the Army.
Attahiru, one of the Army officials whose postings were released last month, was an Assistant Director at the Policy and Plans Department, Defence Headquarters before his new appointment.
