By Emeka Okafor
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday debunked what it described as a misleading information that authority of the 82 Division was constructing a RUGA Settlement at Ochima and Affa in Igbo-Etiti and Udi Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
A statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, said the allegation was false and had no iota of truth.
The statement, however, explained that Nigerian Army Engineers are currently constructing a military training facility that would accommodate troops during training and aimed to improve their efficiency in protecting law abiding citizens.
“The 82 Division 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 between Ochima and Affa in Igbo-Etiti and Udi Local Government Areas, 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 between Ochima and Affa in Igbo-Etiti and Udi Local Government Areas, 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”, the statement clarified.
The statement urged members of the public to disregard the allegation, stressing that the Nigerian Army remains a unifying institution in the country.
“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”, it added.
