Defence Headquarters has described as a
conspiracy the video clip on Reuters showing soldiers killing
civilians in Borno State.
The top management of Defence Information
comprising the Director of Defence Information, Col. Mohammed Yerima; the
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Kayode Koleosho; the Director of
Air Force Information, Air Commodore Yususf Anas; and a representative of the
Naval Director of Information, Commander Wabi Mohammed, debunked the allegation
during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Military high command also demanded an
immediate apology from the international news agency, with a proviso that the
apology be given the same level of prominence given to its earlier report.
Yerima, who briefed journalists on behalf of his
colleagues, said the Armed Forces would be compelled to take further step if Reuters
did not comply with the directive.
Yerima said investigation conducted by the
Military High Command revealed that the controversial video was the same clip
shown on Aljazeera on February 4, 2010 where it was alleged that
Nigerian soldiers were killing civilians in Jos, Plateau State.
He stated that the Nigerian Army Directorate of
Information issued a press statement denying the allegations aired on the
Qatar-based international television, which was widely reported in the Nigerian
media on February 8, 2012.
The military also alleged that a picture from the
Reuters video was on the cover of the Amnesty International report
which was released on November 8, 2012.
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