The Nigerian Army says it has no partnership with a private militia run by Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader.
Dokubo had disclosed recently that his private military company was engaged by the government to work alongside the military in some states, particularly in the Southeast and parts of the north.
However, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the veracity of Dokubo’s claim could only be ascertained by the relevant agency statutorily mandated to license such outfits.
Nwachukwu said in a statement that the Nigerian Army had never conducted any operation with Dokubo’s private company.
According to Nwachukwu: “Going by that interview, Dokubo claims he owns a private military company that was engaged by the government of Nigeria.
“However, it must be clarified that the Nigerian Army is not in any form of partnership or collaborative pact with the ex-militant or whatever private security outfit he claims to own.
“It is also expedient to place on record that contrary to his claims, the Nigerian Army has never conducted any operation jointly or side by side with Asari or the organisation he represents, in any of those areas he mentioned or in any Asari Dokubo theatre of operations.”
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