Sahara Reporters’ story malicious , unverifiable… Nigerian Army
The Headquarters 23 Brigade Nigerian Army has described as malicious and unverifiable news credited to Sahara Report that seven fear dead as Soldiers open fire on protesting staff of Dangote Sugar Company at Gyawana district in Lafiya Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa state.
This was contained in a statement issued by Major Haruna Mohammed Sani the
Assistant Director Army Public Relations 23 Brigade Yola.
According to the statement, on 15th July, 2021 at about 2:00 pm, the Gyawana community staged a protest against the management of Dangote Sugar Company threatening to shut down the establishment and abduct foreign expatriates for sacking some staff of the company who are members of the host community.
The statement added that efforts to calm the situation by the Nigerian Police and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence corps proved abortive as the irate youths, wielding cutlasses, machettes and other dangerous weapons overpowered the security agents.
The Assistant Director noted that when a distress call was made to an Internal Security outfit in Adamawa state nicknamed Operation Farauta, comprising soldiers and other Para-military Agencies, they swiftly mobilized and moved to reinforce the Police and Civil Defence deployment at the location, saying in the process, tear gas as well as warning shots were fired as some of the non- violent means of crowd dispersal and to further prevent own troops from being lynched by the mob.
The statement further stated that the situation was brought under control , but some soldiers sustained minor injuries from the stones thrown by the mob but no single protester was killed.
He wondered where the Shara Reporters’ got their story from, lamenting that the story lack the tenets of objectivity and balance in news writing.
“Sahara Reporters’ story was therefore written in a haste without observing the basic tenets of objectivity and balance in news story writing.
“It is also a calculated attempt to dent the image of the Nigerian Army which is doing so much to ensure that the good people of Adamawa state live in peace without threat to their lives and property.
“The Nigerian Army is a professional and disciplined institution that operates within the purview of the constitution and in line with Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct which serve as guides to troops in all military engagements” the statement said.
The statement therefore urged the general public to remain calm disregard the mischievous report emanated from the Sahara Reporters’, urging Nigerians to continue
rendering their support to the Nigerian Army in her resolve to discharge its constitutional mandate of aiding the civil authority when called upon to safeguard lives and property of law abiding citizens.