The
attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to an article with
the caption, “The Helicopters that evacuated CDS Badeh’s family from Mubi: A
lesson for All Nigerians” written by a certain Elvis Iyorngurum and posted in
an on-line news outlet, NewsRescue.com on the 6th of November, 2014. The said
article which contained strings of deliberate falsehood and spurious
allegations claimed that few hours before the attack on Mubi by the terrorists,
the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal AS Badeh flew in helicopters and
evacuated his family from the town and abandoned everyone else to their fate.
While
the DHQ remains at a loss as to the motive for these unconscionable
fabrications, it is pertinent to quickly repudiate the false claim and to state
clearly that at no time did the CDS send any helicopter to evacuate any of his
family members before, during or after the attack on his home town. Contrary to
the claims by the author, the helicopter that flew to Mubi was on an
operational mission to reinforce the ground troops in preparation of efforts to
repel the attack. The helicopter did not convey any civilian or relation of the
CDS as disdainfully insinuated in the article.
Considering
the fact that the falsehood packaged against Air Chief Marshal Badeh by Elvis
has not only been mischievously and widely circulated, it has been further made
viral on the social media, it can no longer be dismissed as one of those
careless efforts in the campaign to tarnish the name and integrity of this
senior officer and the Armed Forces who are doing their best to address the
security situation in the country. The damage done by the fabrications
contained in that article has not only personal, but national security
implications.
Air
Chief Marshal Alex Badeh as the Chief of Defence Staff has uppermost in his
heart, the interest of the entire citizens of Nigeria, whom he swore to
protect. Insinuating that the CDS is self-centred and insensitive to the
plight of his people is wicked and damaging indeed.
The
DHQ wishes to reassure Nigerians that as a patriot and one on whose shoulders
the leadership of Nigerian Armed Forces rests, he has honestly reaffirmed
severally that he considers every Nigerian and every part of Nigeria as
deserving of equal protection especially at this challenging times. Just like
any other Nigerian, the CDS is pained at the mindless carnage and bloody
violence perpetrated against innocent Nigerians by the terrorist group.
Contrary to the falsehood bandied around by a number of professional critics
and detractors, the CDS believes that every town or village under attack
deserves protection whether it is his home town or not.
This
false story on Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh is one of the many
fabrications being circulated as information or articles by individuals who
have remained desperate in the efforts to dampen the spirit and morale of
military personnel in particular and Nigerians in general as we strive to stop
the activities of terrorists on rampage against our people. It is
therefore necessary to appeal to the populace of concerned citizens to join
hands with the security forces in this effort by refraining from the series of
distractive criticisms and comments.
The mass media
is again requested to beware of lifting stories on the military from online
media that has become the main channel of disseminating falsehood on happenings
in the system.
Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja
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