The Nigerian Army has responded to recent social media reports claiming that Lance Corporal Musa Adamu, a soldier in their ranks, is being detained due to his conversion from Islam to Christianity and for preaching the gospel. The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that these reports are entirely false and a misrepresentation of the actual situation.
According to the official statement, Lance Corporal Musa Adamu is currently in custody for violating certain provisions of the Armed Forces Act, not because of his religious beliefs. The reports circulating online are tainted with religious bigotry and are not a reflection of the values upheld by the Nigerian Army, which operates as a professional institution guided by established ethics and traditions in all aspects of its activities and personnel administration.
Brigadier General Nwachukwu clarified that the soldier was attached to the 63 Brigade for an ongoing operation when he was found preaching while in uniform on a social media platform. This action contravened the extant Social Media policy for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, leading to his interrogation by relevant authorities. However, instead of cooperating with the investigation, Lance Corporal Musa Adamu absconded for about six and a half months, resulting in him being declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL). This is in violation of specific sections of the Armed Forces Act regarding obstruction of provost officers and absence without leave.
The Army emphasized that when a personnel is absent from their unit without justification for seven days, they are declared AWOL, which triggers the freezing of their salary account until their return to the unit and subsequent arraignment and sanctioning. The detention of the soldier is therefore in accordance with statutory provisions and not unlawful.
Brigadier General Nwachukwu pointed out that religious affairs within the Nigerian Army are handled by designated clergies in the Directorates of Chaplain Services, specifically for Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Islamic affairs. These directorates are responsible for conducting all religious activities to cater to the spiritual needs of all personnel, both in theaters of operations and within the barracks.
The Nigerian Army refuted the baseless claim that the soldier is being victimized for his faith, emphasizing that adherence to ethical standards and military laws is paramount for all personnel, regardless of their religious beliefs. The institution does not discriminate based on religion, and any violation of established rules will be met with appropriate sanctions.
The Army denounced the libelous publication, as it could cause disaffection among personnel and tarnish the institution’s reputation. At a time when the Nigerian Army is actively working to protect the country’s territorial integrity and combat insurgents and criminal elements, such unfounded narratives only serve to distract from their constitutional mandate.
Brigadier General Nwachukwu urged the public to ignore these baseless reports and reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army remains committed to restoring peace and stability in Nigeria. The support of the nation’s citizens is crucial for the Army’s success during this critical period, and unfounded and unconstructive narrations only hinder their efforts.
