Defence headquarters dismisses story that soldiers fighting Boko Haram resort to begging locals for food

NIGERIA'S defence headquarters has dismissed as untrue a recent story that soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the northeast of the country had to resort to begging for food because they had been abandoned by the military authorities.

Last week, it was reported that soldiers fighting the insurgents in Borno State were living like destitutes and had to beg local people for food. However, Nigeria's defence headquarters has dismissed the video clip being circulated and story the accompanying story as untrue, saying that it is false and there is no credence to the allegation alleging that soldiers fighting Boko Haram terrorists sleep in classrooms.

Brigadier John Agim, the director of defence information, said: “Defence headquarters hereby draws the attention of the media and the general public to activities of fifth columnists whose only objective is to collaborate with enemies of our nation to prolong their own organisational interests. The story/video is one of their many strategies targeted at breaking the cohesion and the fighting spirit of the troops.”

He added that it is a known fact that all over the world, the battlefront is not a playground and what differentiates soldiers from civilians is the ability to endure hard conditions and make sacrifices. According to the military high command, soldiers on the battlefront are either on the move or in trenches.

“Accommodation where necessary, are makeshift and not expected to be luxurious and that is the reality and price of the military profession, there is no easy way. For those who may not know, there is no barracks in Sambisa Forest and several other troops locations in the northeast.

“Also, troops are promptly paid approved operational allowances aside other welfare and administrative arrangements. Whereas there may be challenges in the battle space which is normal, appropriate measures are being taken to address them.

“The story is a failed attempt to distract the purposeful direction in the counterterrorism fight. The Nigerian armed forces is stating categorically here that its fighting spirit is indomitable and no amount of falsehood can distract the military from fighting terrorism to a conclusive end.

“The public is hereby enjoined to disregard the publication and continue to give the military the needed support and cooperation. Together, we shall bring total peace and security to our fatherland, ” Brigadier Agim added.