Army debunks officer’s involvement in cache of arms in Festac Town

By OKOSUN DENNIS

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday in Lagos debunked the allegation that one of its officers was involved in the cache of arms recovered by the police at Festac Town and being part of a robbery gang terrorising the state.

The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lt Col. Kingsley Samuel debunked the allegation in Lagos while reacting to the allegation linking two soldiers to the arms.

It was learnt that the soldier referred to works with the 9 Brigade of the army, deployed among other soldiers to protect Festac town, Lagos.

It was gathered that residents of Festac raised alarm informing the police that there was a cache of arms and ammunition at 6th Avenue Festac Town, Lagos and the police came to pick it up.

During a press conference on Monday, the Commissionerr of Police, Lagos state, Fatai Owoseni said no one has been arrested inHe aaf connection with the recovered weapons.

Lt Col Samuel added that the soldier in question was doing his lawful duty and went to the extent of investigating the cachement of arms by asking the lady resident some questions.

“The lady then informed the police about the soldier and by that the police invited the soldier to the command and interrogated him.

“It was during interrogation it was discovered that the soldier was also trying to investigate how the cache of arms arrived that area,” he said.

“So the story of the arrest of a soldier, allegedly involved in cache of arms and ammunition and robbery gang  is completely false.

“The police did not keep him in detention, rather, discovered he was not involved in the cachement of arms,” he said.

Samuel further said that whosoever reported that a soldier was involved in cache of arms was not doing the military a favour, rather trying to tarnish the image of the army.

Lt Col Samuel called on members of the public especially journalists to confirm any report before publishing it. Did the police or army tell anyone that an Army was involved?,” he asked.