Okonkwo Samuel
The Nigerian Army (NA) has been informed of malicious disinformation and untruth spread by Radio Biafra London’s Solomon Okafor, an advocate of IPOB, which has been making the rounds on social media. The meme claimed troops were involved in a fictional case of the kidnapping of a family of 10 in Nigeria’s Kaduna state. He also maliciously claimed that about 87 percent of NA soldiers were kidnappers and bandits.
While the NA would have ignored this merchant of falsehood, considering his lack of credibility, it is however instructive to put the records in proper perspective for the interest of unsuspecting members of the public, whom such misrepresentation could mislead.
It must therefore be clarified that the said report is a creation of IPOB/ESN social media foot soldiers, with intent to malign the NA. The picture circulated on the social media is that of fake soldiers (impostors) who were arrested in Lagos – Ondo states axis by troops of Operation CHECKMATE under 81 Division NA, sometime in April 2022. The operation was widely publicized in both the new and traditional media before handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Police.
It is also important to underline that IPOB/ESN have attempted multiple attempts to manipulate following the successful exploits of the troops in detecting and exposing IPOB elements disguising themselves as unknown gunmen and causing carnage against Ndigbo in south-eastern Nigeria Using graphic images, video footage, and fake narratives in online and social media campaigns to denigrate and discredit NA.
The author and his sponsors should note that no matter the campaign of calumny by IPOB and other fifth columnists, the NA will be undeterred and remains a cherished national institution that will continue to execute its constitutional mandate of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, towards building a united nation.
Members of the public are therefore urged to disregard this mindless and irresponsible propaganda clearly emanating from IPOB, aimed at promoting insecurity in the country.
Source- ONYEMA NWACHUKWUD
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