Army to deal with military personnel caught extorting motorists

- The Defence Headquarters says military men on the highways are to provide security for motorists and not to extort them

- The DHQ organises a sensitisation campaign for members of the armed forces on value re-orientation

The Defence Headquarters has urged military personnel to be dedicated to service.

Any military personnel caught extorting motorists along the highways will hence forth be dealt with, the Defence Headquarters has warned.

The warning was issued on Thursday, December 15, by the flag officer commanding (FOC) eastern naval command, Calabar, Rear Adm. James Oluwole, at a sensitisation campaign for members of the armed forces on value re-orientation.

According to the Punch, the FOC, who was represented by Rear Adm Obi Ofodile, the command’s chief of staff, said the duty of military men on the highways was to provide security for motorists.

He said: “If any military personnel extorts money from motorists along the highways and the matter is brought before the notice of the authorities of the Armed Forces, that matter will be dealt with decisively.

“We will not condone that because we all know the basic expectations in the Armed Forces; what you are supposed to do and what you are not supposed to do."

The command’s chief of staff said the Defence Headquarters organised the campaign to achieve accountability, transparency and dedication to service with a view to complementing `the Change Mantra’ of the present administration.

“Mr President has launched the `Change Begins With Me Campaign’ to correct so many things that have gone wrong. The idea of the campaign is to bring us back to our values in our various work places,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has brokered a peace deal between warring factions in Zamfara state after many deaths from consistent cattle rustling attacks.

The Army held a dialogue at Gobirawa Chali village, Dansadau Emirate, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State led by the Deputy Governor Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad on Wednesday, December 14.

Army spokesperson Col. S.K. Usman said in a statement that in attendance were all traditional rulers in the state as well as suspected livestock rustlers including the notorious Buharin Daji.