The Nigerian Army has vehemently denied reports carried on some online sites, that Major Hamza Mustapha has been decorated with the rank of Brigadier General following his recent acquittal by an appeal’s court.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru in a signed statement Tuesday described the report of the purported promotion as false and erroneous.
Attahiru clarified that there are professional procedures that must be followed and fulfilled before an officer can be promoted, which must be in line with the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He explained further: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an erroneous publication being circulated on the internet about the decoration of the former Chief Security Officer of the Late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major. Hamza Al-Mustapha with the rank of a Brigadier General following his recent acquittal by the court.
“The Nigerian Army as a professional force wishes to state that all administrative procedures are guided by extant administrative rules and regulations such as the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service amongst others.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to advice the media to always cross check facts before going to the press to avoid misinformation, misrepresentation and sensationalism in its reportage.”
Meanwhile, ?military authorities have disclosed that Major Al-Mustapha will be officially retired from service with full benefits.
This is coming after the Nigerian Army through the Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. John Agim confirmed on Monday during the Joint Security Committee press briefing at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, that Al-Mustapha is still an officer of the Nigerian Army.
Agim who represented the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Atahiru at the briefing said that Al-Mustapha’s case will be handled by the Army Headquarters Administration.
“With regards to Maj Al-mustapha’s release, well, I want to confirm that he is still in the army and the case is going to be handled by the army administration in line with the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service,” he said.
And in a related development,? the Defence Headquarters said the troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to enforce the state of emergency in three northern states would not relent in their offensive against Boko Haram insurgents despite their alleged ceasefire with the federal government.
Answering question from journalists Tuesday, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, explained that while the Presidential Committee on Amnesty for Boko Haram, is more concerned with the political issues,? the military is focused on the operational areas of the state of emergency.
Olukolade said their major focus was on the operational success of the war against the insurgents, which they would not relent from waging until peace is restored or directed otherwise.?
“As far as we are concerned, we are continuing our operations until there is a counter-directive, and there has been none to that effect for now”, he added.
The DDI also revealed a new trend in the tactics adopted by the insurgents whereby they attack soft targets to attract attention, like the recent attack on? a secondary school in Yobe State.
