Monkeypox: Fake soldiers ‘visiting schools in Rivers’

The New Initiative for Credible Leadership (NICreL) says some individuals in military uniforms have visited some schools in the state trying to vaccinate pupils.

There have been tension in some parts of the south-south and south-east, following allegations that the soldiers are forcefully injecting students with killer vaccines.

But in a statement on Thursday, the group said the story was fabricated to rubbish security apparatus in the state.

Steven Onwu, executive secretary of the group, said the allegations were used to settle political scores.

“NICreL condemns the hoaxes in the strongest terms as it is abominable to toy with vaccination, which is something that is sensitive to human life,” Onwu said in the statement.

“It has been further revealed that fake army uniforms are being used by these people to cause panic in schools.

Lamenting the effect of the “smear campaign, the group called on the military to arrest those behind the “propaganda” and deal with them.

“This situation has forced schools to shut down in several states as IPOB members dressed in military outfits pretend to force pupils to receive vaccination,” it read.

“This development is the actualization of threats by both IPOB on several occasions to rid the southeast. The hoaxes about the killer vaccination are being elaborately staged for propaganda value for now but it is a matter of time before these terrorists begin to actually inject children with biological agents. ”

“We, therefore, call on the Nigerian army to immediately investigate persons wearing its uniform to impersonate soldiers and terrorizing citizens with fake news about forceful vaccination with killer viruses. Anyone caught in this nefarious act should be dealt with in accordance with the law.”