Military warns personnel against extortion

FLAG Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, on Thursday warned its personnel against extorting money from motorists along the highways, saying anyone caught in the act will face severe sanctions.

The FOC issued the warning during the sensitisation campaign for members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria on Value System and Reorientation.

The sensitisation campaign was organised for personnel of the Navy, Air Force and the Nigerian Army.

Chief Staff Officer of the Command, Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile, who represented the FOC said the core duty of military men on highways was to offer adequate security for motorists and not to demand for bribe from them.

He said that the campaign was organised by the Defence Headquarters to achieve accountability, transparency and dedication to service in tandem with the noble objectives and programmes of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oluwole said the aim of the orientation was to instil discipline, attitudinal change, patriotism and bringing back the value systems and dedication to service.

“If any military personnel extort money from motorists along the highways and the matter is brought before the notice of the authorities of the Armed Forces; that matter will be dealt with decisively.

“We will not condone that because we all know the basic expectations in the Armed Forces; what you are supposed to do and what you are not supposed to do.

“Mr President has launched the Change Begins with Me Campaign to correct so many things that have gone wrong. The idea of the campaign is to bring us back to our values in our various work places,”

Brig-Gen Bulama Biu, Commander, 13 Brigade Nigeria Army, Calabar, said that the Armed Forces has keyed into the `Change Mantra’ of the present administration.

Biu said that the Armed Forces would not relent in its efforts at providing security to the civil populace, stressing that the current administration places high premium on issues of security.