By Augustine Ehikioya
Worried by media report, the Nigerian Army has disclosed that it caters for all faith, as it condemned a misleading viral report suggesting that the NA only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faith.
The viral report, it also noted, has made futile effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.
A statement made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA) by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General, Onyema Nwachukwu, reads “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.”
According to the statement, the schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among the diverse Army personnel.
It added “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.” it stated.
