By Ahmad Umar
Gombe (Nigeria)- Army has called on people of Taraba state, northeast of the country to shun rumours that the Army is in the state to arm and equip herdsmen to continue killing and take over the land.
In a statement made available to newsmen in the State, the army advised the people to ignore the rumour saying
” is not true, rather, it is another mischief statement intended to portray the Nigeria Army in bad light.”
The statement which was signed by the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 23 Brigade, Major Kamarudeen Adegoke, said the Nigeria Army is a professional organization that conduct its exercise and operation without sentiments or alignment to any group.
“All the troops deployed for this excercise as made known in the statement are guided by the rules of engagement and respect for human rights, in line with international best practice. “
The ongoing frivolous statement, according to him, will not deter the Nigeria Army from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and called on the public to have confidence in the Army.
On the ongoing medical outreach which the people rumoured that the exercise was aimed at vaccinating people with diseases that would incapacitate them in the near future, the Army described it as false saying that the medical services was to assist the public.
“The rumors is baseless and made out of wickedness to discredit the Nigeria Army in its deliberate and properly planned effort to sustain Civil military relations with the public especially where this exercise is being conducted.”
Calling on the public not to shun the medical outreach as doing so will discourage those willing to benefit from it, the Army assures the public that the ongoing medical outreach program is one of the best medical programmes designed to give medical relief to those found with ailment that require immediate medical attention. “
Appealing to the media to assist in using all available platforms to disseminate this information to the public, the military on its part said it would continue to extend all the needed hands of friendship to the Communities where the ongoing military operation tagged ‘AYEM AKPATUMA’ is taking place .
