The Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, against making comments to disparage its name.
According to a statement from the Army on Monday, March 8, the controversial cleric was cautioned against maligning its image.
The statement signed by Army spokesman, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, noted that deployment of soldiers for national assignments is not made due to religious considerations. The Army’s statement was in reaction to a viral video showing Gumi blaming non-Muslim soldiers for the attacks on bandits.
In the video clip, the Islamic scholar was seen telling the bandits that the soldiers involved in most attacks against them were non-Muslims.
Part of the army statement read: “Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and other opinion merchants are please enjoined to exercise restraint not to drag the image and reputation of one of the most reliable national institutions to disrepute. “Comments suggesting to mudslide the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army are not only inimical but tended towards creating bad blood amongst Nigerians.
“It is, therefore, disturbing that an opinion leader would deliberately want to disparage the Nigeria Army to portray it in a bad light. “The Nigerian Army wishes to seize this opportunity to advise opinion leaders to be more courteous while expressing their views, taking into cognisance the imperative for national security, particularly at these difficult times.”
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