Boko Haram: Buratai denies allegation of non-payment, ill-equipment of Nigerian troops

The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Tukur Buratai on Thursday said
allegations of lack of equipment and non -payment of allowances to
troops in the war fronts are ill-conceived and misleading.

He said the allegations were part of the campaigns of calumny
against the army to dampen morale of troops.

He urged the media to see through the psychological warfare of
the insurgents and their international and local collaborators.

Mr Buratai made the remarks at the opening ceremony of Nigerian
Army Conference for Editors at Nigerian Army Resource Centre,
Abuja.

The Army Chief appealed to the editors to support the military
in the war against Boko Haram terrorists, asserting it was not
meant for the military alone.

According to him: “It is important to note that the leakage of
vital information on military operation like the on-going fight
against the Boko Haram terrorists is inimical to national security
as this will give our position to the terrorists and give them
upper hand in their psychological war against the troops.

“I made it clear that it is imperative to check the spate of
terrorists’ propaganda which is inimical to the successful
implementation of the counterinsurgency campaign.

“Additionally, I also reaffirmed that terrorists thrive on
publicity to misinform the public, instil fear in the minds of the
people and dampen troops’ morale.

“Furthermore, the allegations of human rights abuses against the
military by Amnesty International, allegations of lack of equipment
and non-payment of allowances to troops are ill-conceived and
misleading.”

He went on: “The war against terrorism should be a collective
responsibility for all, and not just a war between the army and the
terrorist groups.

“The war needs to be reported as it is, and therefore, the media
need to enlighten the people to understand the true situation and
support the military.

“The impact of the terrorists’ propaganda was one of the major
challenges facing the military by discouraging and dampening morale
of the troops in the frontline.”

US, UK Warns Politicians on 2019 Elections

The United States and the United Kingdom announce repercussions,
including visa restrictions, for election interference and
election-related violence.

U.S. Statement
The conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not
only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.

The United States government does not support any specific
candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United
States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support
a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral
process.

We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention
to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process
or instigate violence against the civilian population before,
during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider
consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be
responsible for election-related violence or undermining the
democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations
may also lead to restrictions on family members.
We welcome the signing of peace pledges by Nigerian candidates and
their commitment to a peaceful electoral process.
……….

UK Statement
23 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 37
days to the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, the British
High Commission in Abuja would like to reaffirm our strong support
for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

We and our international partners remain committed supporters of
Nigeria’s democracy. We do not support any party or individual and
believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their
leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity.

We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s
Independent National Electoral Commission and to Nigerian civil
society to help them deliver credible elections. We also regularly
engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them
to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and
calm. We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the
forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s
Election Observation Mission.

Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts
to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including
on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where
the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for
individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the
UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution
under international law.

The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria. We hope our continued
support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step
towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in
1999.

PRNigeria