‘Attempt to blackmail the military will fail’

The Centre For Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) says the plot to blackmail the Nigerian military will continue to crumble.

The group said the success story of the military is too golden to be dwarfed by some “selfish individuals” who are out to demoralise the leadership of the military with a campaign of calumny.

Isaac Ikpa, the executive secretary of the group, said this in a statement on Sunday.

“As we have seen in the renewed onslaught on the integrity of Nigeria, the new round of attack is focused on undermining the ability of the country to defend itself against external and internal threats,” he said.

“This, we understand, is to be achieved by distracting and disorienting the military and security services such that they are either busy dealing with distractions or soldiers become overly conscious of threats and blackmail in a way that leaves them too worried to do their work.

“From what we have observed the plan has been well hatched between foreign interests and their local representatives. Some components of the plot have already been activated, some phases are in progress while others are awaiting implementation.

“The components we have become aware of through our contacts are;

“The release and publication of fictitious and bogus reports by NGO affiliates of the detractors: these reports will make allegations of right abuses against the military and would be given the widest international and local coverage possible.

“A variant of the reports would claim that there has been a disproportionately high casualty on the part of the Nigerian military in the fight against Boko Haram. In the later stages of the plot, the detractors will procure the kind of weapons used by Nigerian troops and make same available to either actors of Boko Haram fighters for photo opportunities while some of the NGOs will then circulate pictures purporting to show captured weapons from the Nigerian military.

“Exploitation of advisories by the diplomatic missions of several countries: routine advisories issued by countries to their nationals are to be exploited to create the impression that Boko Haram members have overpowered security operatives to take over several Nigerians cities and that they will soon be able to carry out large-scale attacks.

“This component is not just to tarnish the military and the government but is also aimed at eroding investors’ confidence in bringing business to Nigeria. It is curious that this component has been activated at a time when the economy is in recovery mode.”