The North-East Elders for Restoration and Development have described as malicious and insensitive insinuations that the leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria was complicit in the recent death of some residents of Tudun Biri village of Kaduna State.
Following the accidental incident, some individuals and groups came up with insinuations that the incident had an ethno-religious undertone.
Reacting to the insinuations, North-East Elders for Restoration and Development in a press release on Sunday said it was unfortunate that ethno-religious sentiments were being used to blackmail the military, which has sacrificially stood for the peace and stability of the country.
The Elders through their President, Mallam Buba Tanko, and Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, said those that were raising the allegations should have studied the antecedent of the present leadership of the military, especially the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa.
According to the Elders, “It is unfortunate that some of our people are being used to escalate the tension in the North for selfish interest.
“For example, the present Chief of Defence Staff, Gen, Chris Musa was Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai. His stay in the North-East is enough to vouch that the Armed Forces of Nigeria under him will not descend to attack those it is protecting.
“During his stay in the North-East, Gen. Musa ensured that peace was not only restored, but people, irrespective of ethnicity and religion began to return to their various means of livelihood.
“We must not be blinded by ethno-religious sentiments at this time the country is going through economic and security challenges. Any one bringing up these insinuations at this time, don’t love Nigeria.”
The Elders commended the Armed Forces for what it has done, especially in the North-East.
“We urge residents of our region to continue to support our military as they strive for total peace in the North-East and the country as a whole,” they added.