The Nigerian Army has debunked reports that the ragtag Boko Haram fighters are better equipped than Nigerian soldiers, dismissing them as propaganda and psychological warfare against the troops.
Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Sani Kukasheka Usman, in a statement that addresses various issues and concerns about the ongoing counter-insurgency war in Nigeria’s North-east, accused some misguided elements in the society of waging psychological warfare against it.
Usman said military issues are not all comers’ affairs and lamented that the ongoing counter terrorism operations were being trivialised and politicised for selfish reasons.
“Unfortunately, the psychological attacks are not being waged against the Nigerian army by the Boko Haram terrorists alone, but also by some misguided elements both within and out of the country,” he said.
Usman noted that most of the false allegations being levelled against the army were based on selfish and mostly political reasons by unpatriotic elements.
“In spite of extant rules, these groups of persons discuss highly classified military issues which they are mostly ignorant about on various media platforms.
“Indeed, those who should know better are the ones perpetrating these acts.
“The psychological effects of spreading misinformation and fake news are grievous and inimical to national security and should not be allowed to continue,’’ he said.
Usman said that conduct prejudicial to military discipline and cowardice as being exhibited by few misguided soldiers should not be misconstrued as a failure on the part of the military or the government.
He said military equipment and welfare were known issues in the Nigerian army but that when such problems were observed, “appropriate steps are taken to remedy them”.
According to him, the army will always address its challenges and take charge of any issue without any external prompting, criticism or condemnation.
The army spokesman noted that some individuals and groups in and outside Nigeria have been making false claims and allegations that Boko Haram terrorists were better equipped than the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He said: “Nothing can be further from the truth as the armed forces of Nigeria have universally accepted doctrines, better trained, equipped and well motivated.
“Therefore, there is no basis for comparison between the Nigerian soldier and the Boko Haram terrorists.’’
