The Nigerian Army says its recruitment is guided by the provisions of the constitution and not on ethnicity or religious sentiment. It said that it “remains steadfast in upholding professionalism and impartiality as an institution devoid of ethnic and religious bigotry.” The army’s spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Tuesday, June 25, while reacting to a viral video that showed a man calling young men to join the military to protect their religion.
Nwachukwu said the narrative depicted in the video was not in “any instance a reflection of the true values and standards” of the Nigerian Army.
He described the content of the video as “false and misleading” and targeted at sparking anxiety and fear and “sowing discord and mistrust amongst our personnel, eroding public confidence in the integrity of the Nigerian Army, particularly among Christian and non-Muslim communities, who might feel their lives and faith are under threat, and ultimately engender religious crisis in the country.”
Nwachukwu urged the public to “rise above these divisive tactics and stand united.”
He said: “The strength of Nigeria lies in her unity in diversity, and it is this unique national strength and trait that the Nigerian Army seeks to protect while carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
“We will remain undaunted in upholding these principles in the face of any challenge.”