Nigerian Army Disown Four Soldiers Who Publicly Declared Support For Buhari

The Nigerian Army has disowned the four soldiers seen in a trending photo publicly declaring support for President Muhammadu Buhari re-election bid with his popular 4+4 insignia.

The Army said it would investigate the photo to determine its authenticity and take necessary actions in that regard because like every other military organization, the Army is expected to be neutral, but the widely shared photo shows soldiers supporting a politician in the race.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, the acting director in charge of Army public relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, said:

“The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a picture of four armed men dressed in what looks like military camouflage in a 4 x 4 finger sign supposedly connoting a campaign symbol of a political party which is against the rules and regulations of the Nigerian Army.”

“The Nigerian Army wishes to dissociate itself from the picture even as it has commenced immediate investigation with the view to ascertain the source and authenticity of the pictures and the “soldiers’ involved. If the outcome of the investigation confirm this to be true, appropriate sanctions would be provided. Nigerian Army of today under the command of Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai do not condone or encourage indiscipline and any form of professional misconduct.

“On many occasions, the Chief of Army Staff has made it strongly clear that Army personnel will remain neutral, totally apolitical and will not compromise its constitutional roles under any guise.”