GOC 6 Division dismisses Wike’s allegations against Army as false

GOC 6 Division dismisses Wike’s allegations against Army as false

Sunday, December 11, 2016 9:04 pm


Nigerian soldiers

Nigerian soldiers


Okafor Ofiebor/Port HarcHarcourt

General Officer Commanding 6 Division of Nigerian Army has dismissed the allegation by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State of killing and mass arrest by soldiers in Tai, Ogoni, Gokhna-Ogoni LGA of Rivers as State were false.

GOC Major-General Kassimu Abdulkarim who disclosed this in a press briefing to journslists in Port Harcourt said the allegations are not only false but a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the army but to whip sentiment from members of the public.

He said it is true that soldiers of 6 Division Nigerian Army provided security during the Rivers State Legislative Re-run Election that was conducted on Saturday, the allegations made by some respected politicians regarding deep involvement of soldiers during the elections were aimed at tarnishing the positive image of the Army.

The GOC said the weighty allegations by politicians that soldiers were involved in ballot box snatching, illegal escorts of some politicians, arrest and detention of voters during the general conduct of the elections were mere farce to garner public sympathy.

Major-General Abdulkarim said the “6 Division, Nigerian Army remained apolitical in the conduct of the election. Its soldiers provided perimeter defence to ward off hoodlums and miscreants. Nigerian Army troops were in no way involved in any form of ballot box snatching, neither were they involved in the escort of politicians as alleged.

According to the GOC, the Army acted swiftly in response to security breaches in order to enforce the law, provide aid to the Nigeria Police and other security agencies especially in areas like Abonema, Etche, Gokhana, Ikwere, Eleme, Tai, Khana and Omoku amongst others.

He also explained that the susceptibility of mentioned areas warranted providing security for the electoral officials, voters, international and local observers, in conjunction with other security agencies by soldiers for a peaceful election to thrive in the environment.

He said in the aforementioned areas were armed men that engaged security personnel, pointing out that “in Gokhana, armed hoodlums engaged the soldiers providing outer perimeter defence for the electorates. In Abonema at 0730 hours on Saturday there were three explosions that created bedlam.

The GOC said 11 NYSC members were abducted along with electoral materials. However, 10 of them were rescued two hours later by the soldiers while one was rescued about 8 hours later.

General Abdulkarim said that “At Emouha, Mr Oblewaremu abducted 5 NYSC members with election materials in a Sienna bus. The corps members were rescued while the suspect was handed over to the Police. Several shootings were recorded in some communities such as Bodo, the home town of the secretary to the State Government, B-dere and Mogho in Gokhana LGA, including snatching of ballot boxes.

The GOC said the most brutal incidence occurred at Ujju Community near Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local Government area where a police patrol team was ambushed. In the ambush, 10 policemen scampered into the bush.

“The Mobile Police organized a rescue mission. Regrettably, the team discovered that DSP Alkali Mohammed of Mobile Police Unit 48 was beheaded along with his orderly. The patrol vehicle was taken away with weapons, three policemen escaped while five were missing in action. This is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were ambushed on 20 November 2016 where a soldier was killed”.

He narrated also “on 21 November 2016, 4 personnel of NSCDC were killed and their weapons carted away. These attacks are reasonable evidence of violations of breach of law and order which portray the area as a flash point. Despite these barbarisms, soldiers acted with civility and professionally guaranteeing peaceful election.

He said that the Nigerian Army as a respected institution with constitutional responsibility to safeguard lives and property, could not watch miscreants and hoodlums abducting, maiming and killing innocent citizens especially in senseless attacks on uniform personnel.

. The GOC stated that the “Rivers State Re-Run Election was adjudged credible, free, fair and peaceful in many parts of the State. Accusations of soldiers partisanship therefore was sham and phony”.

He assured that 6 Division would continue to maintain apolitical posture in discharge of its roles to ensure provision of adequate security in Rivers State.


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