The Nigerian Army has denied having any partnership with ex-militant leader Mujahid Asari-Dokubo or his security outfit.
TrackNews Media reports that Asari-Dokubo had claimed in an interview that he had a private military company that was engaged by the government to work alongside the military in some states of the federation.
However, the Army said it had never conducted an operation in any part of the country in collaboration with Asari-Dokubo’s men.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the veracity of Asari-Dokubo’s claim could only be ascertained by the relevant agency, statutorily mandated to license such outfits.
He said the Army was not in any form of partnership or collaborative pact with the ex-militant or whatever private security outfit he claims to own.
Nwachukwu also said the Army had never conducted any operation jointly or side by side with Asari-Dokubo in any of the areas he mentioned or in any theatre of operations.
He said, “Going by that interview, Dokubo claims he owns a private military company that was engaged by the government of Nigeria. The veracity of his claim can only be ascertained by the relevant agency, statutorily mandated to license such outfits.
“However, it must be clarified that the Nigerian Army is not in any form of partnership or collaborative pact with the ex-militant or whatever private security outfit he claims to own.
“It is also expedient to place on record that contrary to his claims, the Nigerian Army has never conducted any operation jointly or side by side with Asari or the organisation he represents, in any of those areas he mentioned or in any Asari Dokubotheatre of operations.”
The Army’s denial comes after Asari-Dokubo had said that his private military company was working alongside the military in Niger, Plateau, Abia, Imo, and parts of Rivers State. He also said that his men had been in Anambra.
Asari-Dokubo had said in a Channels Television interview, “I don’t have an army but I have a private military company that was engaged by the Nigerian government and I have been doing the work for the Nigerian state. Private military companies exist all over the world; we have Black Waters, we have Wagner; we have so many private military companies.
“So, I have a private military company that is engaged by the government and we are fighting side by side with the Nigerian military in many places. Like Niger, Plateau, Abia, Imo, and parts of Rivers State. We were in Anambra too. We are doing a good job and we are being commended by the host communities.”
