The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has dismissed report making rounds that troops fighting Boko Haram insurgents were suffering and hungry.
“The summary of findings is that there is no case of hunger, starvation or begging among the troops fighting in the North-East, the minister was quoted to have said in a statement issued on Monday.
“There is also no irregular or short payment of allowances, while claims of poor equipment, inadequate kitting and accommodation are found to be ill-conceived and unfounded,” Mohammed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that on Sept. 21, an online publication reported alleged deplorable conditions of the troops who were fighting Boko Haram in the North-East.
The allegation was attributed to a phantom Corporal, with the pseudonym Gandoki, said to be serving with one of the Special Forces Units in the theatre of operation.
He was quoted as alleging that troops deployed along Gubio Road and Brig.-Gen. Maimalari Secondary School, Maiduguri, were begging for food to survive.
According to the allegation, the troops were poorly kitted with some wearing slippers and were facing irregular or short payment of their allowances as well as alleged non-serviceable equipment in the theatre.
The minister said that because of the grave implications of the report and the allegations on the security of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered an investigation to determine the veracity or otherwise of the claims.
He said that from the findings of the investigation, the allegations in the publication were “ill-conceived and unfounded” and an example of fake news that the government was fighting against.
“Let me elaborate. The troops in question, deployed at Brig.-Gen. Maimalari Secondary School along Gubio Road, are being fed centrally three times a day, and are kitted immediately after their training before they are deployed in the theatre.
“How then can soldiers who are fed centrally be starving or begging for food?
“Concerning the payment of allowances, the monthly allowances of troops of the AFSF Battalion are being paid directly into their various accounts from the Defence Headquarters, hence they cannot be short-changed,’’ he said.
