The Nigerian Army has refuted allegations contained in a trending video alleging that the establishment of the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs, which is supposed to be a force of unity in a secular country, is aimed at Islamising and destroying the nation.
A trending video recalled that the initiation of such policies in countries like Turkey and Libya resulted in a crisis which the countries and others like them are yet to recover from.
The video urged the Army to focus on the fight against insecurity, bandits and terrorists as well as defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and secularism rather than allegedly diverting from its mandate and engaging in worrisome policies.
Responding in a statement, the Army headquarters said it has been notified of a viral report suggesting that it runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faiths.
“The viral report also made a futile effort to portray the Nigerian Army as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.
“Considering the gravity of this falsehood, the Nigerian Army wishes to categorically state that this propaganda in its entirety is dead on arrival as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution.
“The Nigerian Army is a secular organisation that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel, irrespective of ranks, is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.
“Our unwavering commitment to secularism guarantees that religious diversity is respected and accommodated, allowing soldiers to observe their faith without hindrance to their duties.
“For clarity, the Nigerian Army operates multiple religious training institutions to cater for the diverse faiths of our personnel.
“In addition to the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs located in Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Lagos, the Nigerian Army also has the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment.
“These schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among our diverse members.
“Our dedication to secularism is aimed at fostering a professional and inclusive environment where individuals can serve their country without fear of religious discrimination or bias.
“This approach ensures that all officers and soldiers can practice their beliefs in a supportive and respectful setting.
“The Nigerian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of secularism and religious freedom, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect for their individual beliefs,”; the statement read.
