Nigerian army reacts to allegation it abandoned a wounded soldier and stopped paying his salary

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October 31, 2017 at 01:12PM
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Adeola Opeyemi

- Nigerian army has reacted to allegation that a wounded soldier was abandoned by the army and his monthly allowance stopped

- The army claimed that the wounded soldier was declared AWOL after he left the hospital without informing roper authorities

The Nigerian army has denied allegation that it abandoned one Private Abdulrauf Aliyu who was attacked and wounded by Boko Haram while he was on duty.

There was an allegation raised by a member of the Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS), Idris Ahmed, that the army abandoned Aliyu after he sustained abdomen injuries and stopped paying his salary.

The army, in its' reaction to the allegation said Aliyu was never abandoned but rather disappeared from the hospital he was taken to without being discharged.

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In a statement released by the army spokesperson, SK Usman, the army said Aliyu was declared Absent Without Leave (AWOL) when the army couldn't locate him.

The statement reads: "The Nigerian army’s attention has been drawn to an allegation by Mr Ahmed Idris of the Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS) titled “Exposed: Corruption in the Nigerian army-How a Wounded Soldier was Abandoned by the Nigerian army and had his Salary and Allowances Stopped” which he posted on his Facebook wall.

"The Nigerian army being a responsive organization, has thoroughly investigated the allegation and wish to state that it is unfounded, erroneous, malicious and intended to cast aspersions on the leadership and reputation of the Nigerian army typical of Mr Ahmed Idris. We wish to state that there is no such case of corruption or abandonment of any Nigerian Army soldier least of all 13NA/70/6592 Private Abdulrauf Aliyu as alleged.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Private Abdulrauf Aliyu was posted to 1 Division Garrison on 18th December 2013 after 6 months military training at Depot Nigerian army, Zaria, Kaduna State, for military duties. On 11th December 2015, Private Abdulrauf Aliyu was nominated to beef up 158 Task Force Battalion at the Nigerian army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji. The unit was later deployed to the North East. Private Abdulrauf Aliyu's unit was unfortunately attacked on the 18th April 2016 at Kareto by Boko Haram, during the attack, he sustained abdomen injury which after First Aid treatment he was evacuated to 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services for treatment.

"The soldier was later transferred to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for expert review and care. He has not been seen on several visits to both 7 Division Hospital and Medical Services and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. All efforts to trace the whereabouts of Private Abdulrauf Aliyu proved abortive as he failed to return to either 158 Task Force Battalion nor 1 Division Garrison unit till this moment. It is important to note that he was neither discharged by any of the aforementioned hospitals, nor was he granted official pass by any Commander.

"Consequent upon this, his unit had no option other than to initiate Absent Without Leave (AWOL) and disciplinary procedures against him leading to stoppage of his pay and allowance in accordance with extant laws and procedures of the Nigerian Army. He was declared AWOL on 24th June 2016 and has spent a total of 183 days as at the time the Board of Inquiry (BOI) on his continued absence was set up. Therefore, BOI recommended that the soldier be Struck Off Strength (SOS), which was done on 16th August 2016.

"From the foregoing, this is a clear case of a deserter from the Nigerian army trying to run a campaign of calumny against the Nigerian Army on Social Media through willing accomplice as Mr Ahmed Idris.

"Therefore Mr Ahmed Idris, is strongly advised to please always eschew rushing to malign persons and organizations without proper investigation. You should allow whatever sentiment or malice you harbour against anybody or the Nigerian army not to becloud your sense of judgement. You should stop misleading the public through unfounded and baseless allegations.

"As it is now the soldier in question is a deserter who, if seen, should be apprehended and handed over to the nearest military unit or police station."

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday, October 30, ordered the redeployment of troops who participated in the special military exercise in the Niger Delta to Lake Chad region.

Buratai announced the redeployment at the closing of Exercise Crocodile Smile II in Igwuruta, Ikwerre local government area of Rivers.

Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV:

Source: Naija.ng

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Nigerian army reacts to allegation it abandoned a wounded soldier and stopped paying his salary
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