The Nigerian Army have come out to clarify why soldiers were sighted at the height of the emirate tussle on Saturday, 25th May, 2024.
Recall that the situation took a new turn when the deposed Aminu Ado Bayero, dethroned Emir of Kano made entry into the ancient city and many soldiers were sighted at the Nassarawa palace where the 15th Emir retired. This development led to accusation of bias against the army.
However, in a terse statement issued on on Sunday, Director Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu said “troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano state emirate tussle and are not involved in enforcing any court order.”
Nwachukwu, Major General added that “they have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.”
He maintained that their interest is to ensure that there’s no breakdown of law and order and they will quickly step in of the situation degenerates beyond the control of the police, adding that all they’re doing now is monitoring the situation.
The statement reads:
Contrary to insinuations by the Kano state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association as published by Premium Times on 26 May 2024, troops of the Nigerian Army have not been involved in the Kano state emirate tussle and are not involved in enforcing any court order. They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.
The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors.
The military would imminently intervene when it becomes apparent that the intensity of the security situation becomes overwhelming for the police.
All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Major General
Director Army Public Relations
26 May 2024
The Army shouldn’t have been seen at the convoy of the deposed emir at that stage. They are quick to take proactive action in this case but failed to respond speedily when called during terrorists attacks in Benue.
It is not the responsibility of the army at that point. It is when the situation have overwhelmed the police that they can come in. The army should not get involved in politics of because of an individual.