By TOM CHIAHEMEN, Abuja –
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), denied on Wednesday a publication in one of the online news media suggesting that personnel on duty at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) CCTV monitoring room were sleeping when bandits attacked the officers’ residential quarters.
The attack on the headquarters of the NDA in Kaduna, North-West Nigeria by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday led to the death of two officers and the abduction of 1 other officer.
In a statement issues in Abuja, the Nigerian Armed Forces stated categorically that the allegation contained in the news report was untrue .
The Armed Forces therefore challenged the online medium (not NATIONAL ACCORD) to publish forthwith ‘”a verifiable proof of personnel sleeping during the incident.”
The rest of the statement, signed by the Director, Defence Information, Major-General Benjamin Olifemi Sawyer, reads:
“It is therefore imperative to caution the Cable Online media to guide against being used as a propaganda tool by enemies of our dear country. The Cable Online should not consciously or unconsciously collaborate with these unscrupulous elements to spread unverified stories on the unfortunate event that occurred at NDA Kaduna while tarnishing the good image and reputation of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the eyes of the civil populace.
” It is perhaps important to mention that the AFN as a professional force consist of highly trained personnel who are dedicated to their duties of protecting lives and property of all Nigerians.
“Let me use this opportunity, to reiterate that the NDA authorities, acting on the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff has constituted a board of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the breach of security with a view to sanction any personnel found culpable and also prevent future occurrence.
“Let me also assure that we shall continue to update the general public as events unfold as we are all aware the search and rescue of the abducted officer is still on. Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue with it’s operations to ensure all those involved in the dastardly act are brought to justice.”
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