The Nigerian Army has reacted to spate of social media controversy over its School of Islamic Affairs, describing it as “propaganda in its entirety” that is “dead on arrival as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution.”
In a statement on Monday morning, Army Spokesperson, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, noted that the allegations that the Army is “ignoring other faith” is a “futile effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.”
Dismissing the insinuations, General Nwachukwu stated that the Army remains a “a secular organization that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel irrespective of ranks is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.”
According to the statement: “The Nigerian Army has been notified of a misleading viral report suggesting that the NA only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faith. The viral report also made futile effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.
“Considering the gravity of this falsehood, the NA wishes to categorically state that this propaganda in its entirety is dead on arrival as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution.
“The Nigerian Army is a secular organization that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel irrespective of ranks is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion. Our unwavering commitment to secularism guarantees that religious diversity is respected and accommodated, allowing soldiers to observe their faith without hindrance to their duties.
“For clarity, the NA operates multiple religious training institutions to cater to the diverse faiths of our personnel. In addition to the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs located in NA Cantonment Ikeja, Lagos, the NA also has the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment. These schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among our diverse members.
“Our dedication to secularism is aimed at fostering a professional and inclusive environment, where individuals can serve their country without fear of religious discrimination or bias. This approach ensures that all officers and soldiers can practice their beliefs in a supportive and respectful setting.
“The NA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of secularism and religious freedom, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect for their individual beliefs.”