Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Faruk Yahaya,
‘Army not constructing RUGA settlements in South East’ – Spokesman
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Nigerian Army on Wednesday denied allegations making the round that it was constructing Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements in South East of Nigeria.
A statement made available to Journalists in Enugu by Abubakar Abdullahi Major, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations Officer, said the Army was neither constructing RUGA settlement at Igbo-Etiti community in Enugu state nor any other part of the region.
The statement said the Nigerian Army was currently constructing a military training facility at Igbo-Etiti Community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, contrary to the allegation by IPOB.
“Nigerian Army has noted with utmost concern, a baseless allegation aired through an outlawed online radio that the Division of the Nigerian Army is currently constructing a Ruga Settlement at Igbo-Etiti community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State.
“Though this inciting broadcast emanates from a source bereft of any credibility whatsoever, there is need however to present the facts clearly for the sake of posterity. It must be emphasised that Nigerian Army Engineers are not constructing any Ruga Settlement in any part of Nigeria. Rather, the Engineers are currently constructing a military training facility at Igbo-Etiti Community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State.
“Upon completion, the facility will accommodate troops during training and aid to improve their efficiency in protecting law abiding citizens across the South East. Any counter narrative aired on the project is a malicious falsehood aimed at inciting the public against the Nigerian Army.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard such untrue and false information emanating from this aforementioned media or any information source. The Nigerian Army remains a credible institution that unites the country and has no place for ethno-religious sentiments. We shall continue to carry out our constitutional tasks objectively across the country and remain totally apolitical,” the statement reads.
