Army Will Not Shield Officers Working With Bandits

The Nigerian Army (NA), has stated that it will not defend any officer caught working with bandits to perpetrating crimes across the country.

The NA said this against the background of allegation by popular Islamic Scholar, Ahmad Gumi, that bandits had the support of “bad elements” in the nation’s security outfit.

Gumi, who spoke to Arise News in an exclusive interview alleged that bandits had access to sophisticated weapons owing to their collusion with security agents.

He said, “These bandits, if you don’t know, are cooperating with a lot of bad elements in our security system. This is a business. So many people are involved; you will be surprised.

“They were caught in Zamfara. They were caught everywhere. How do these big weapons cross our borders?”

However, the NA in a statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, described the claim as an attempt to undermine the sacrifices of the troops to restore peace in the country.

The statement read, ““The Nigerian Army has just been alerted to a submission by Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi when he featured on ARISE TV Morning Show on Wednesday, June23, 2021 alleging that the Nigerian military is colluding with marauding bandits who have been responsible for various crimes and atrocities against Nigerians and the Nigerian state.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to state that contrary to Sheik Gumi’s claims, the Nigerian Army remains a bona fide symbol of national unity that has conducted its constitutional responsibilities in the most professional manner in line with global best practices of adherence to the rules of engagement and protection of the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.

“The sweeping allegation peddled by the scholar is not only sad and unfortunate, but a calculated attempt to denigrate the Nigerian military and undermine the sacrifices of our patriotic troops, who are working tirelessly to restore peace and stability across the country”.