The Defence Headquarters has denounced media reports that some 3,000 soldiers took to starving themselves after they weren’t paid their entitlements upon being re-engaged.
The said soldiers were re-engaged after five months out of the army for sundry offences.
On January 7, the Daily Trust reported that the soldiers said they hadn’t been paid since being re-engaged.
But Rabe Abubakar, a Brigadier General and Acting Director, Defence Information, said the story was all shades of falsehood.
“To put the record straight, the soldiers are enthusiastic and full of praises to the military authority that gave them another chance to re-unite with the folk for better services to their fatherland,” he said.
Abubakar slammed Daily Trust for its report.
“It is worrisome that a reputable newspaper of national outlook would source its story from unreliable social media without corroboration with relevant authorities to ascertain the veracity of the news.
“This practice negates the ethics of journalism and is grossly unprofessional.
“Information that threatens national security should be avoided and efforts should be intensified to confirm from highest authority before going to press.
“Press should also avoid fuelling tension, no matter the inherent personal gains, especially now that all hands are on deck to unite all Nigerians against insecurity and insurgency.”
Abubakar said it wasn’t in the military’s creed or nature to embark on a hunger strike.
“It has never happened and will not happen because we are disciplined, professional and highly loyal to the constituted authority. Such behaviour could only occur within unprofessional soldiers, and certainly not Nigerian military,” Mr. Abubakar said.
“The Director Defence Information therefore restates that his door is widely open, round the clock, for whosoever wishes to clarify issues that border on defence and national security to do so in order to give correct information to citizens.”
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