Nigerian Army Says Report of Confiscation of Property in Enugu is Unfounded

The Nigerian Army (NA) has described as completely unfounded a viral petition written by the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) alleging that 82 Division of the NA is threatening to forcefully and unlawfully take over a property situated at Plot 30, Abakaliki Road, Enugu.

The said property includes No. 7 Abakaliki Lane in the Government Residential Area (GRA) of Enugu State according to the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.

The Nigerian Army in a reaction stated that the petition, which also posits that 82 Division, in defiance to a letter from the Office of the Chief of Army Staff decided to take the law into its hand and supplant the rule of law, is completely unfounded and intended to tarnish the ongoing efforts of the Nigerian Army to restore peace and tranquility in the South East Region.

In setting the record straight, the Nigerian Army said the property is its own that was last occupied by Colonel Emeka Ugwuoke Rtd during his service. The senior officer who was allocated the quarter during his service was removed from it by the Nigerian Army in April 2023, when he tried to convert the quarter to his private property after his retirement. It says one corner of the property from where the NA ejected the retired senior officer that the trespassers invaded.

The Nigerian Army stressed that is a disciplined institution that respects human rights and the rule of law, urging the public to disregard the narrative that suggests the NA is acting unlawfully or without respect for due process.

The statement further said NA's position is that the property remains under its ownership, until proven otherwise through appropriate legal channels, and any claims to the contrary are based on misinformation.

It therefore called for a thorough investigation and due process to resolve the matter, and says it stands ready to present its evidence of ownership to the competent authorities.

It equally reaffirm it's commitment to the rule of law and the proper resolution of this dispute in accordance with Nigerian legal standards and provisions.