The Defence Headquarters has reacted to what it describes as unsubstantiated allegations by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, wherein he made wild allegations against the Armed Forces of Nigeria, regarding the recent spate of terrorist attacks particularly, the attack of the prison in Kuje, the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Tuesday.
Femi Fani-Kayode had claimed that the Department of State Security, DSS informed the military about the impending attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre and even the previous attack on the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train. He also claimed that soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the prison attack.
A statement by the Defence spokesperson, Major-General Jimmy Akpor says in all the allegations, Fani-Kayode is merely playing to the gallery and that He is not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack or not. It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all government agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
The statement adds that the claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable and sad that Fani-Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard prisons.
On further claim that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, which resulted in the unfortunate death of some soldiers, some policemen and members of the public, the Defence Headquarters say it is also an attempt to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command. A despicable statement that dishonours the sacrifices of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price whilst responding in defence of the civilians and the mining community. Describing it as a shame.
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The Defence Headquarters has encouraged Fani-Kayode to pay more attention to the weekly briefs by Defence Media Operations and updates on operations being conducted across the country even as press releases on military operations are also made when the need arises.
Furthermore the statement adds that the Nigerian Armed Forces has toiled to sustain and nurture democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup de tat, as alluded to by Fani-Kayode in his video. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has always stressed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Nigerian Constitution. Accordingly, as the 2023 general elections approach, desperate persons must depart from their evil ways, for never again would they lure the military into their wicked machinations. If a confession must be made, Nigerians must know now: the military is always the worse victim of military rule.
The statement notes that Fani-Kayode is completely oblivious of the fact that in the military, orders, instructions and directives are issued from the hierarchy to the lower rungs of command. Therefore, junior commanders cannot be working hard while their superiors are idle. While adding that it is a difficult time for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole and not time for attention-seeking individuals to cause needless distractions.
The military hierarchy urged Members of the public to ignore Femi Fani-Kayode and continue to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
