The Nigerian Army (NA) has denied as false accusations in the media that troops raided and evicted the family of a retired army commander in Enugu.
Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said in a statement on Thursday that the report was purposely twisted to destroy the image and reputation of the Nigerian army.
It is necessary to clear the air and clarify any doubts about the removal of the retired senior officer according to Nwachukwu.
He said that House 7 on Abakaliki Lane had housed Nigerian army officers in Enugu for more than two decades.
He said that when he was appointed as the Deputy Commander 82 Division Intelligence Group in 2007, the home was assigned to retired Col. EL Ugwoke, then a Major, as his official residence.
Nwachukwu added that the officer remained in the residence even after he was transferred out of the division.
He went on to say that it was then uncovered that he had sought to illegally usurp the residence using Enugu State Government personnel.
The then-General Officer Commanding (GOC) established a committee in 2020 to determine the condition of the property.
He said that the home was determined to be one of the residences given to the 82 Division by previous administrators in order to alleviate the Division’s lodging issues.
“That the aforementioned property was not one of the 26 residential quarters officially handed over to the Enugu State Government in 2015.”
“That there are no documents to confirm that the said property was sold or paid for by anyone.
“It is worthy of note that officers of the army occupying institutionalised houses are expected to vacate such accommodation while on posting or retirement.
“However, the retired senior officer failed to comply knowing fully the rippling effects on accommodation status of others posted in, and serving officers,” he said.
The Army spokesman also said the alleged brutalisation of the retired officer’s wife and children in the said publication was outright falsehood aimed at whipping up undue sentiments.
He said the Nigerian army was a disciplined institution with utmost regard for family institution and the vulnerable, particularly women and children.
The ejection process was audio and visually documented, as it was envisaged that such allegation could arise according to him.
“Emphatically, neither the wife nor children were brutalised and no property was damaged in the process of eviction.
“The retired senior officer’s belongings were simply transfered from the house in question to his personal house at number 127 Park Avenue, GRA Enugu to pave way for other serving officers to be accommodated.
“This was after serving the retired officer three previous official notices and several appeals for him to vacate the property after his retirement in 2021.
“The general public is advised to disregard this misleading publication as it is devoid of the actual facts of what transpired.
“The Nigerian army will not relent in catering for the wellbeing and welfare of its serving and retired personnel within the ambits of legitimacy,” he said.
