Nigerian Army has distanced itself from claims by ex-Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo of owning a private military licensed by the Nigerian government.
The director Army public relations, Brig-gen Onyema Nwachukwu when contacted said the Nigerian Army was not in any partnership with Dokubo and his private military.
He said the army has never fought side by side with him or the organisation he represents.
Dokubo had in a viral video claimed that he owns a private military that is licensed by the federal government and that he has been fighting along Armed Forces of Nigeria in Niger, Plateau, Abia, Imo and some parts of Rivers.
He also claimed that the communities his men operate have been giving accolades and commendation.
“I don’t have an army but I have a private military company that was engaged by the Nigerian government and I have been doing the work for the Nigerian State. Private military companies exist all over the world. We have black waters, we have Wagner. We have so many private military companies.
“They are not even new to Nigeria. The only thing new is that a Nigerian is providing the same services South African, Belarusian and others provided to fight Boko Haram and this was on BBC . There was a BBC documentary of South African mercenaries that were in Nigeria and I listened to the interview where they said they were even sabotaged by the military while they were here.
“So, I have a private military company that is engaged by the government and we are fighting side by side with the Nigerian military in many places. Like Niger, Plateau, Abia, Imo and in parts of Rivers State. We were in Anambra too. We are doing a good job and we are being commended by the host communities”
But Nwachukwu dismissed the claim, saying that the Army has no pact with him.
He said, “Going by that interview, Dokubo claims he owns a private military company that was engaged by the Government of Nigeria. The veracity of his claim can only be ascertained by the relevant agency, statutorily mandated to licence such outfits.
“However, it must be clarified, that the Nigerian Army is not in any form of partnership or collaborative pact with the ex-militant or whatever private security outfit he claims to own.”
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