The Chief of Defence Staff has ordered the constitution of a board of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the breach of security during bandit attack at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA.
On Tuesday gunmen had invaded the staff quarters of the NDA, killed two officers and abducted one other.
The attack on the country’s elite military academy had attracted condemnations by many Nigerians.
A few hours after the incident, The Cable, citing intelligence sources, alleged that personnel on duty at the NDA CCTV monitoring room were sleeping during the attack.
Refuting this allegation, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, in a statement by the director, Defence Information, Benjamin Sawyerr, said the report was untrue, challenging the newspaper “to publish forthwith a verifiable proof of personnel sleeping during the incident”.
He said: “It is therefore imperative to caution the Cable Online media to guide against being used as a propaganda tool by enemies of our dear country.
“The Cable Online should not consciously or unconsciously collaborate with these unscrupulous elements to spread unverified stories on the unfortunate event that occurred at NDA Kaduna while tarnishing the good image and reputation of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the eyes of the civil populace.
“It is perhaps important to mention that the AFN as a professional force consist of highly trained personnel who are dedicated to their duties of protecting lives and property of all Nigerians.”
The CDS vowed to sanction any personnel found culpable, adding that the outcome of the investigation would help prevent future occurrence.
The statement said: “Let me use this opportunity, to reiterate that the NDA authorities, acting on the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff has constituted a board of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the breach of security with a view to sanction any personnel found culpable and also prevent future occurrence.”
The statement noted that the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue with its operations to ensure all those involved in the dastardly act are brought to justice.
