The Nigerian Army has told UK based Dr. Idris Ahmed of Citizens United for Peace and Security (CUPS) to provide evidence reflecting his claim that the organization was unconcerned about the disappearance of its former Chief of Administration, Major General Idris Alkali or stop playing politics with the senior officers’ life.
A statement from Army headquarters signed by Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, Director of Army Public Relations said, “ The attention of Army headquarters has been drawn to attempts by individuals like Idris Ahmed of CUPS and his UK to denigrate the Nigerian Army by insinuating that the Army was unconcerned on the missing Major Gen IN Alkali and that the Nigerian Army is complicit in his disappearance.
Consequently, the Nigerian Army wishes to state as follows, “That Major Gen IM Alkali (N/8353) retired from service on 7th August 2018 after 35 years, one month and 3 days of meritorious service to his fatherland.
“That Major Gen IM Alkali is entitled to keep his Nigerian Army driver and orderly which he still has at the time of his disappearance.
“That as a retired senior military officer, Major Gen IM Alkali has the freedom to travel anywhere without asking for permission from the Nigerian Army.
“He is also likely to travel with or without his driver and/or his orderly.
“That the wife of the senior officer, Mrs. Salamatu Alkali drew the attention of the Nigerian Army authorities to a suspected case of the missing senior officer on 5th September 2018.
“According to the wife, the retired senior Nigerian Army officer left his home in Abuja for Bauchi on 3rd September 2018.
“That the senior officer travelled without his driver and orderly but drove himself in a black Toyota Corrolla.
“That the wife informed that when she last spoke to him on his GSM number 09056890335, he claimed to have passed Jos and was on his way to Bauchi.
“That on receipt of the report from his wife, the Nigerian Army attached an intelligence officer to the family to act as a liaison officer.
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“The officer was also to obtain as much details from the family to aid investigation.
“That the Nigerian Army contacted the MTN and Glo networks to furnish her with the missing senior officer call records.
“Appropriate technical intelligence facilities were also put into use and the senior officer’s phone was tracked to somewhere in Du District, near Jos, Plateau State.
“That the COAS has tasked the Commander, Op Safe Haven as well as GOC, 3 Div to intensify the search for the missing retired senior officer in collaboration with the Fire Service, NEMA and other relevant agencies.
“That in the course of the search for the missing senior retired military officer, sources informed that he may have been killed and his body and car dumped into a deep mining pit around Du District of Jos South Local Government Area.
“That since receiving the report of the missing retired senior Nigerian Army officer, the COAS has directed that no stone should be left unturned to locate and rescue the officer.
“That despite several attempts to distract the Nigerian Army from continuing the search either through the sponsorship of protest by women or through biased reportage by so called freedom fighters antecedent, the Army has resolved to get to the root of the matter.
“That so far, the suspected mining pit is being drained to enable troops get to the bottom of the pond.
“That the claims by the so-called Dr Idris Ahmed that the Nigerian Army is unconcerned and also sponsored the disappearance of the retired senior officer is imbecilic, childish and completely out of sync with reality.
“That we dare Dr. Idris Ahmed to provide evidence to support his infantile claims and advise him to stop playing politics with the life of an individual.
“That Dr Idris Ahmed should report back to his handlers and sponsors that he has failed in carrying out their directive to smear the image of the COAS, Lt Gen TY Buratai as well as the Nigerian Army.
“The public is hereby enjoined to disregard the publications and continue to give the military the needed support and cooperation.
“Together we shall bring total peace and security to our father land.”
END
