The Nigerian Army on Sunday said none of its men was involved in an alleged harassment and shooting of motorists for about four hours in Iwo Road area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Friday.
The Army in a statement sent to DAILY POST on Sunday morning by Colonel Hassan Mohammed, Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division declared that the report that soldiers were involved in harassing and shooting of motorists is false, misleading and an attempt to blackmail the Nigerian Army.
Mohammed in the statement entitled, “Re: Soldiers harassing and shooting cars in Iwo Road Ibadan”, said that it is imperative to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army are well trained and guided by ethics of military profession.
Mohammad said, “The attention of, 2 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication by twitter. com/Gokentetsu/status platforms alleging that soldiers in Ibadan harassed and shot at motorists for about 4 hours on 9 November 2018 at Iwo Road general area, within Ibadan Metropolis.
“The report is false, misleading and an attempt to blackmail the Nigerian Army. It is imperative to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army are well trained and guided by the ethics of military profession. Personnel of the Nigerian Army cannot, therefore, behave in the manner described by the reporter in the above-mentioned platform.
“The general public is please requested to note that the woodland camouflage uniform is not only used by the Nigerian Army but by other services of the armed forces. It should be noted that at about 1:40pm (1340hours) on 9 November 2018, a fracas ensued between personnel of the Nigerian Airforce dressed in woodland camouflage uniform and a member of the National Union Road Transport Workers (Micra Taxi Driver ) at Iwo Road, Ibadan. It was alleged that a Micra Taxi Driver and unarmed Airman, who was an escort to an Airforce Bus conveying pupils of the Nigerian Airforce Primary School, Ibadan were engaged in an argument following a minor accident.
“Unfortunately, other Micra Taxi drivers supported their colleague and joined hands to molest the unarmed Airforce escort, the driver of the bus and the pupils. Consequently, the unarmed escort sent words to Headquarters Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan who mobilized her personnel to the scene to calm the situation.
“Four Micra Taxi drivers suspected to have taken part in fueling the crisis were arrested by the personnel of Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan. The arrested Micra Taxi drivers are presently in custody of the Nigerian Airforce Detachment, Ibadan for preliminary investigation.
“The general public is therefore advised to please disregard the online publication as it is misleading, baseless, frivolous and a mere attempt to blackmail the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army remains a professional force conscious of its responsibilities to the Nigerian people”.
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