Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Felix Omoigui, speaking at a
press briefing in Maiduguri on August 14, 2020.
The Nigerian Military has cautioned Borno State
Governor, Babagana Zulum, against making public remarks about what
it described as unverified allegations against its personnel in the
theatre of operations.
This formed part of the recommendations of an investigative team
set up to verify the allegations that soldiers in the war front
have been engaging in farming and fishing activities.
The team lead, Major General Felix Omoigui, who is also the
Deputy Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, briefed reporters
on the findings of the team on Friday in Maiduguri, the Borno State
capital.
He revealed that the allegations emanated from personnel of some
security agencies, which were neither investigated nor verified
before reporting same to the governor.
Omoigui who described the allegations as false and malicious
explained that when the team visited Baga town, there were no
records of fishing or farming by the troops as alleged.
“The prohibition of troops from engaging in farming and fishing
activities in Area of Responsibility is contained in the Standing
Operative Procedures,” he stated.
The deputy theatre commander insisted that soldiers have been
constantly warned not to get involved in any farming and fishing
activities.
He stressed that the investigative team also found that the
entire area of Baga was too heavily mined with Improvised Explosive
Device (IED) to encourage any farming activity, adding that 55
mines have so far been detonated since the town was reclaimed.
Overzealous Security Agencies?
“The allegations were conjured by some overzealous security
agencies who for personal glory and without recourse for the tenets
of inter-agency cooperation decided to propagate falsehood.
“The Governor of Borno State believed these allegations levelled
against troops of the 19 Brigade in Baga given his recent
utterances,” Omoigui said.
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He added, “Remarks of highly placed persons is capable of
demoralising the troops which would negatively impact on operations
and the confidence of the locals in the military.”
Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum. Photo:
Twitter-@ProfZulum.
The major general said the report faulted the governor has been
in constant touch with the Theatre Commander and the Sector 3
Commander for not reporting the allegation for investigation.
He decried, “Allegations of such nature could be avoided if the
military authority was contacted on issues concerning troops
activities before going public.
“The realisations that the allegation emanated from security
agencies could trigger reactions and animosity among troops and
attendant negative consequences.”
According to him, the report recommends that Governor Zulum
should be advised on the need to contact the Headquarters of the
Theatre Command to verify any allegation against troops in
Operation Lafiya Dole.
While declining to name the supposed security outfit responsible
for the allegations, Omoigui advised security agencies to educate
their personnel on the need to verify issues before disseminating
same as intelligent reports.
When contacted, the governor’s aide on media and strategy, Isa
Gusau, stated that his principal had gone beyond that.
He said, “He (Zulum) made his point which was not personal, and
has moved forward.
“The governor has throughout this week, been engaged with
high-level meetings at the Presidency and with the military’s
service chiefs whom he visited in Abuja, to enhance collaboration
on the more urgent issue of reclaiming peace in Borno.”