The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said that it is not constructing Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements in any part of the Southeast region.
According to a statement by Major Abubakar Abdullahi, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, the 82 Division Nigerian Army said the allegation against it via “an outlawed online radio” is “baseless”.
POLITICS NIGERIA understands that allegation was that the Division of the Nigerian Army is currently constructing a Ruga Settlement at Igbo-Etiti community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State. The security agency has now rubbished the allegation.
“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 at Igbo-Etiti Community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State,” Army said.
“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.
“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.”