The Defence headquarters on Saturday announced that it had commenced a probe of the claim that some ‘soldiers’ were apprehended while spying on the residence of a Yoruba separatist, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho.
It denied allegations that the Federal Government was behind the act. The DHQ claimed that one the supposed soldier was a serial impersonator and not a real soldier as alleged.
A viral video had shown two alleged spies being pursued by Igboho’s supporters in Ibadan as they fled on a motorcycle.
The duo said to be soldiers, were later caught and brought to Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan.
However, the acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, in a statement titled, ‘Re: Sunday Igboho apprehends alleged soldiers, accuses Federal Government of spying on him,’ said:
“For the avoidance of doubt, preliminary investigation has so far revealed that one of the alleged ‘soldiers’ is a serial impersonator.
“Meanwhile, credible eyewitnesses and sources have also revealed that some associates of Igboho went in pursuit of some individuals when the motorbike conveying the impersonator and one Nigerian Air Force officer ran into them.
“The duo were immediately apprehended and taken to the said “IGBOHO House” at Soka before Ibadan toll gate where they were branded as spies. Furthermore, investigations are currently underway by Nigerian Airforce and the Nigerian Army to unravel the actual circumstances which played out on the day.”
He added that the military “cannot stoop so low to such extent to ‘spy’ on one individual, as wildly and loosely alleged.”
He said that the Nigerian Armed Forces “is a highly disciplined and professional organization with extant laws and regulations which guide the actions of its personnel in the conduct of their duties.”