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Army warns Gumi, denies troops deployed along religious lines
BY KAZIE UKO
The Nigerian Army has fired a warning shot at renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, cautioning him to desist from dragging the image of the force in the mud.
The army said its attention had been drawn to a viral video clip showing the Islamic scholar alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for attacks against bandits.
According to a statement issued Monday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Mohammed Yerima, Gumi was seen in the video telling some bandits that the soldiers involved in most attacks against them were non-Muslims. He further told the bandits that soldiers were divided into Muslims and non-Muslims.
“While the Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the respected Sheik Ahmed Gumi, it is however important to restate that the Nigerian Army as national institution does not deploy its troops along ethnic or religious lines.
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“Therefore, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute,” Yerima stated in his statement.
According to the army spokesman, “The Nigerian Army remains the pride of the nation and has continually defended the territorial integrity of this great nation. Comments suggesting to mudslide the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army are not only inimical but tended towards creating bad blood amongst Nigerians.
“Furthermore, most operations conducted by the Nigerian Army were done in strict adherence to rules of engagement, code of conduct and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry without any exception. It is therefore, disturbing that an opinion leader would deliberately want to disparage the Nigeria Army to portray it in bad light.
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“The Nigerian Army wishes to seize this opportunity to advise opinion leaders to be more courteous while expressing their views, taking into cognisance the imperative for national security, particularly at this difficult times when our gallant troops have redoubled their efforts to tackle the myriads of security challenges facing our dear nation. What our troops need now is public support to discharge their responsibility effectively and in the most professional manner.”