The Nigerian Army has refuted claims made in a viral video alleging that the 14 Brigade in Ohafia, Abia State, is issuing residential permits to individuals of a specific ethnic group.
According to the Army, the video is not only outdated but also deceptive and aimed at sowing discord.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Enugu, the acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, categorically denied the allegations, describing the video as “entirely deceptive and a calculated attempt to cause disaffection and malicious intent.”
He clarified that the video, which is currently making rounds on social media, originally surfaced in 2021 and was related to a specific incident involving a certain Mr. Ibrahim Saleh.
“For context, the residential permit featured in the video belonged to Mr. Ibrahim Saleh, who was intercepted by local vigilantes in 2021 while transiting through Isiukwuato Local Government Area of Abia State,” Unuakhalu said.
“The matter was thoroughly investigated and fully resolved at the time as the permit in question was issued to him while working in the barracks as part of the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme (BIIP),” he explained.
Unuakhalu went on to describe the BIIP as “a Nigerian Army livestock initiative scheme aimed at empowering personnel and their families by providing them with skills and knowledge to engage in agro-based businesses, which include rearing of cattle and other animals.”
According to him, “The permit is purely given to a few Fulani herdsmen employed in the scheme due to their expertise and proper vetting procedure and documentation. It is thereafter retrieved on expiration or termination of employment.”
The army spokesman insisted that the renewed circulation of the video is “both misleading and disingenuous,” noting that it has no basis in current reality.
“The implication that 14 Brigade or any formation of the Nigerian Army, is selectively issuing residential permits to individuals or any ethnic group is completely unfounded and without merit,” he said.
He further stressed that “Headquarters 82 Division unequivocally dissociates itself from any form of ethnic bias and preferential treatment.”
Unuakhalu described the reemergence of the disproven narrative as “a calculated effort to undermine the credibility of the Nigerian Army and provoke unnecessary public anxiety.”
“In this era of artificial intelligence and digitally manipulated content, we urge the public to remain vigilant and to rely only on accurate and verified information from credible sources,” he advised.
He reiterated the commitment of the 82 Division to its constitutional responsibilities, saying it “remains steadfast and continues to operate with the highest level of professionalism, integrity and impartiality.”
Finally, Unuakhalu called for collective efforts toward national cohesion.
“We also call on all responsible citizens and stakeholders, particularly across the South-East, to work collaboratively in promoting peace, unity, and mutual trust in the interest of national security and development,” he concluded.
