There are no secret graveyards in northeast theatre - DHQ denies rumour
- The defence headquarters said it has no secret graveyards in the northeast theatre
- A news media had alleged that the military has graveyards where fallen heroes are secretly buried
- But, the defence headquarters said the Armed Forces of Nigeria does not indulge in secret burials
The defence headquarters has denied a media publication which alleged that secret burial sites where troops killed by Boko Haram are buried silently exist in the northeast theatre.
Legit.ng reports that in its statement on Thursday, August 1, the Nigeria military said the writer of the publication lacks knowledge of its valued ethos, and traditions on treatment of fallen heroes.
It said the insinuation could only emanate from an uninformed position of the author of the said publication, adding that it became necessary to inform the public that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has a rich and solemn tradition for the interment of the fallen heroes.
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The statement read: "The defence headquarters has noted with dismay an online article by Wall Street Journal purporting that the Nigerian Military maintains secret graveyards in the north east theatre of operation. This insinuation can only emanate from an uninformed position of the author of the said publication. It therefore becomes necessary to inform the public that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has a rich and solemn tradition for the interment of our fallen heroes."
The statement noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria does not indulge in secret burials, stressing that it is a sacrilege and a profanity to extant ethos and traditions of the Nigerian military.
"In tandem with the traditions of the Armed Forces, fallen heroes are duly honoured and paid the last respect in befitting military funeral of international standard, featuring funeral parade, grave site oration, solemn prayers for the repose of departed souls by Islamic and Christian clerics, as well as gun salutes, aside other military funeral rites.
"The cemetery described in the publication, which is situated in Maimalari military cantonment is an officially designated military cemetery for the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the northeast theatre, with a cenotaph erected in honour of our fallen heroes. The official cemetery has played host to several national and international dignitaries, where wreaths were laid in honour of the fallen heroes. It is therefore a far cry from the sacrilegious impression being painted by Wall Street Journal,” the statement read.
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The military, however, urged members of the Armed Forces and the general public to disregard the misinformed publication and see it as a figment of the imagination of the writer, whose knowledge of military valued ethos and traditions is grossly misplaced.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Nigerian Army would inaugurate four Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in order to end insurgency in the country.
It was reported that the MRAPs would be deployed to the northeast to frontally deal with insurgency in the region.
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Source: Legit.ng
