You are a liar and criminal - Army tells presidential panel member over Boko Haram $3,000 pay comment

- The Nigerian Army has denied claims that Boko Haram fighters earned more money than soldiers

- Army spokesman Col. Musa accused member of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative (PCNI) Sidi Mohammed who made the claim of being an insurgent sympathiser

- Sagir said not only is Mohammed's claim false, it is also geared at demoralizing troops and drawing gullible youths to enlist for the insurgents

The Army said Mohammed would be reported to the proper authorities for further action against him

The Nigerian Army has denied claims by a member of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative (PCNI) Sidi Ali Mohammed that insurgent fighters made several times more money daily than a Nigerian soldier battling them.

The Nation reports that the Army lambasted Mohammed in a statement signed by its spokesman Sagir Musa on Wednesday, May 1.

Col. Musa described Mohammed's comment as not only false but very irresponsible for a public official of his status.

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He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a publication on Sahara Reporters and other social media platforms, to a false claim credited to one Doctor Sidi Ali Mohammed, a member of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative.

“In it, he alleged that the criminal terrorist group members earn as much as $3,000 daily, as against the Nigerian soldier who is paid N1, 000 only.

“This is not true, pure lie and highly irresponsible comment coming from a supposedly knowledgeable person of his calibre."

The Army spokesman also described the action of the committee member as criminal.

He said: “It is also criminal and preposterous to compare the gallant soldiers of our Armed Forces with the rag tag terrorists’ criminal gang.

“Indeed there is no such basis at all between the outlawed criminal terrorist who commits crime against humanity and our highly patriotic, courageous and brave soldiers whose sacrifice cannot be quantified."

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The Army also accused Sidi Mohammed of being a Boko Haram sympathiser who did want Nigerians to know the extent of his closeness to the group.

“Over time, we have been alerting the world that the menace of Boko Haram terrorism is being aided and abetted by sympathisers’ such as Dr Sidi Ali Mohammed.

“He must have been associated with the terrorists’ group beyond what he may want the public to know for having the knowledge of how much a terrorist earns per day to commit atrocities against fellow Nigerians and other innocent people including women and children."

Col. Musa accused Mohammed of trying to demoralize the Nigerian troops as they record victories after victories over the insurgents.

“His statement could be part of the deliberate attempt to demoralise the patriotic soldiers serving their fatherland so that the terrorists will take advantage of it.

‘’It is also a way of swaying the gullible youths to believe the lies of Boko Haram terrorists as being peddled by him."

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Mohammed will be reported to the proper authorities where he would be made to explain how he came about his claims, the Army says.

“Therefore, we are calling on all Nigerians to discountenance the statement credited to Doctor Sidi Ali Mohammed while we take necessary steps to formally report him to the appropriate authorities to further substantiate these unfounded allegations."

“We would like to assure the public that the Nigerian Army would remain resolute and focused in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in our great nation and no amount of distraction or terrorists’ propaganda will dissuade it.”

Recall that Legit.ng had reported that Sidi Mohammed, on Monday, April 29, said that Boko Haram fighters received better pay than Nigerian soldiers.

Mohammed, who is the head of the humanitarian assistance and rehabilitation arm of the PCNI, while speaking at the Presentation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Sub-Sahara Africa’s Economic Outlook Report, in Abuja had said the terrorists receive a daily payment of $3,000 (N1,080,745.33) daily for the operations aimed at elongating the insurgency in the north east since 2014.

The PCNI member said the payment received by the terrorists make that of the N1,000 allownace paid to the Nigerian troops fighting insurgency in the region ridiculous.

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Source: Legit.ng