By Asuquo Cletus Felix
The Nigerian Army has denied operating only a school of Islamic affairs, while ignoring other faiths.
This was contained in a press statement on Monday by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public Relations titled ” NIGERIAN ARMY IS A SECULAR PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTION THAT UPHOLDS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR ALL PERSONNEL”.
The army noted that it was responding to a futile viral report which made an effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.
Onyema stressed that the army is a secular organization which upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel irrespective of ranks are free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.
According to Onyema, the army operates multiple religious training institutions to cater to the diverse faiths of its personnel.
“The Nigerian Army has been notified of a misleading viral report suggesting that the NA only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faith. The viral report also made a futile effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.
“The Nigerian Army is a secular organization that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel irrespective of ranks is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.
“For clarity, the NA operates multiple religious training institutions to cater to the diverse faiths of our personnel. In addition to the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs located in NA Cantonment Ikeja, Lagos, the NA also has the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment. These schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among our diverse members.”-It reads.
