2019 Elections: Nigerian Army Investigative Panel absolves personnel of electoral misconduct

“It was also found out that the allegations of alleged assassination attempt, soldiers unilaterally imposed curfew, abducted and illegally detained INEC staff and diverted INEC materials to Nembe-Basambiri was misrepresented.” – Army Spokesman

The Nigerian Army has absolved its personnel from allegations of misconduct during Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2019.

This was disclosed in a statement isssued by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, and made available to the press in Abuja on Monday.

It will be recalled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently repeatedly alleged the Army of misconduct during the last elections in particularly Rivers State.

Although the Army vehemently dismissed the allegations and accused INEC of not reflecting its inputs in the report by which the electoral umpire leveled same, it set up an investigative committee to investigate activities of its personnel vis-a-vis the allegations against them during the period of the elections, which has now concluded its findings after separate interactions with stakeholders including the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers states.

The Army’s Spokesperson, Colonel Sagir Musa, said the committee analyzed and reviewed the petitions received against the Nigerian Army personnel from various stakeholders and found out that most of the allegations were untrue, baseless and unsubstantiated claims.

He however informed that the unprofessional conduct of some personnel was still under investigation promising that appropriate sanctions will be meted on the offenders according to military law, if found guilty.

“A committee set up by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai to investigate the allegations of unprofessional conduct leveled against the Nigerian Army personnel during the 2019 general elections interacted with stakeholders including Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers States, among others.

“The Committee analyzed and reviewed the petitions received against Nigerian Army personnel from various stakeholders and found that most of the allegations were untrue, baseless and unsubstantiated claims. It was also found out that the allegations of alleged assassination attempt, soldiers unilaterally imposed curfew, abducted and illegally detained INEC staff and diverted INEC materials to Nembe-Basambiri was misrepresented.

“The Committee received submissions from some individuals in the state which revealed that painting Nigerian Army as the aggressor during the elections was a deliberate attempt by some individuals to tarnish the Nigerian Army’s image.

“However, the unprofessional conduct of some personnel was still under investigation and appropriate sanctions will be meted on the offenders according to military law, if found guilty.

“It is also pertinent to inform the public that steps are underway for the gradual administrative redeployment of personnel in 6 Division to douse the observation by some individuals that troops have overstayed especially in Abonnema community,” the Army said.