The Nigerian Army on Wednesday denied building Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) for herdmen in Enugu State and by extension nationwide.
The Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Abubakar Abdullahi, was reacting to reports that the military was setting up the settlement rejected across the country when President Muhammadu Buhari tried to implement the policy he said will address herders and farmers clashes.
Mr Abdullahi describing the report as baseless said what they were rather constructing between Ochima and Affa in Igbo-Etiti and Udi Local Government Areas of Enugu is a training camp that will aid troops in improving their efficiency to protect lives and properties across the geo-political zone.
“The 82 Division Nigerian Army has noted with utmost concern, a baseless allegation aired through an outlawed online radio that the Division of the Nigerian Army is currently constructing a Ruga Settlement between Ochima and Affa in Igbo-Etiti and Udi Local Government Areas, Enugu State,” the Army mouthpiece said. “Though this inciting broadcast emanates from a source bereft of any credibility whatsoever, there is need however to present the facts clearly for the sake of posterity.
“It must be emphasised that Nigerian Army Engineers are not constructing any Ruga Settlement in any part of Nigeria. Rather, the Engineers are currently constructing a military training facility at Igbo-Etiti Community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State. Upon completion, the facility will accommodate troops during training and aid to improve their efficiency in protecting law abiding citizens across the South East. Any counter narrative aired on the project is a malicious falsehood aimed at inciting the public against the Nigerian Army.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard such untrue and false information emanating from this aforementioned media or any information source. The Nigerian Army remains a credible institution that unites the country and has no place for ethno-religious sentiments. We shall continue to carry out our constitutional tasks objectively across the country and remain totally apolitical,” he added.
