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Nigerian army reacts to video clips alleging Nigerian soldiers killed civilians in Jos

February 8, 2010

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a video clip posted on a news web site and put into circulation via cell phones, projecting a scene where Nigerian soldiers were purportedly shooting innocent civilians during the recent civil unrest in Jos, Plateau State. The Nigerian Army finds the scenes projected in this video clip as very disturbing, particularly as the scene presented therein are directly at variance with the standards by which it has been known over the years.

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a video clip posted on a news web site and put into circulation via cell phones, projecting a scene where Nigerian soldiers were purportedly shooting innocent civilians during the recent civil unrest in Jos, Plateau State. The Nigerian Army finds the scenes projected in this video clip as very disturbing, particularly as the scene presented therein are directly at variance with the standards by which it has been known over the years.
The army has investigated the allegations and has confirmed that the video clip in question was nothing but a wicked manipulation aided by application of current advancement in computer technology. It was obviously aimed at embarrassing the Nigerian Army while at the same time stirring up the polity.
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Indeed, the information available to the Army has made it clear that, the video film clips in question was not shot in Jos as was claimed. The persons referred to as soldiers were manipulated images and certainly not Nigerian soldiers. The vehicle depicted in the film was not one of those used by the Nigerian Army in the Internal Security Operation in Jos. Furthermore, the three-lane road in the clip does not exist in Jos. This is a challenge to those circulating this video clips to be honest enough to identify with it and tell the public the details of the background of those shots.

The public is please advised to decipher between manipulated film shots and the reality of the tendencies of their own military. Indeed, it has never been in the character of the Nigerian Army throughout its experiences either in peace support operations abroad or in internal security operations at home to unleash such acts of brutality and illegality on citizens, let alone carry out summary and extra judicial execution as presented in the manipulated video film. The record of operations in Jos rather confirms the Nigerian Army’s exemplary character and belief in the rule of law. As done in similar operations, suspects were promptly handed over to the police for necessary legal action.

This army remains a professional Army built on high moral, ethical and disciplinary standards. The Nigerian Army continues to pride itself in its strict control measures and discipline which lays significant emphasis on when, where, and how the minutest aspect of weapons are applied.

The Nigerian Army wishes to seize this opportunity to assure the Nigerian people that notwithstanding these cruel manipulations and calculated plots to cause disharmony in the system, their military remains as strong, cohesive and formidable as ever.
 
A.C Olukolade, Brigadier General
  Director Army Public Relations
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