10th February, 2016
The Nigerian Army has described the 250 protesting dismissed soldiers as recalcitrant, noting that, “they are simply not interested in army job but want to earn salary”.
The army in a statement issued by Colonel Sani Usman, the acting spokesperson urged Nigerians not to take them serious. “No one should listen to them as they are not patriotic at all,” he said.
Usman then stated the position of the army and why the 250 soldiers were dismissed from the force. “The attention of the Nigerian Army has also been drawn to a set of 250 protesting dismissed soldiers in Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Kaduna pleading through the media to be reabsorbed back again into the Nigerian Army.
“The protesting soldiers were those soldiers dismissed last week by the Nigerian Army over gross acts of indiscipline, cowardice and absence without leave. They were part of the 2,023 dismissed soldiers last year that were earlier reinstated back into the Service by the present Chief of Army Staff.
“However these set of soldiers (the 250) absconded for more than one week when they were told that they were to move to North East on the 6th of January 2016. They started coming back when they realised that others were moved to units other than the theatre of operations in the North East.
“Please note that all efforts were made to make all the reinstated soldiers comfortable and integrate them back into the system. The protesting soldiers are the few who are recalcitrant to military duties and discipline. They are simply not interested in army job but want to earn salary. No one should listen to them as they are not patriotic at all.
“It should be noted that the Nigerian Army has been tolerant and patient with their acts of indiscipline and unprofessional conduct.
“This was based on the understanding of their circumstances and conditions. Efforts have been made to retrain them, integrate and give them sense of belonging. However the attitude of some of them has left so much to be desired and would not be tolerated anymore hence their dismissal from Service.
“The Nigerian Army thrives on discipline, loyalty and good conduct and if anyone could not measure up to expectation or live by those tenets, he would not be allowed to remain in the system,” Usman said.