Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Sun Nigeria

Alleged plot to Islamise military dead on arrival – Army headquarters

Army headquarters

Allegations in a trending video alleging that the establishment of the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs in a secular country is aimed at islamising the nation have been dismissed by the Nigerian Army.

The viral video stated that such policies in countries like Turkey and Libya resulted in a crisis, urging the Nigerian army to focus on the fight against insecurity, bandits and terrorists.

Reacting in a statement, the Army headquarters called the video propaganda, which is dead on arrival.

“The Nigerian Army has been notified of a misleading viral report suggesting that the NA only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faiths.

“The viral report also made a futile effort to portray the NA as exclusively encouraging religious bigotry among its personnel.

“Considering the gravity of this falsehood, the NA wishes to categorically state that this propaganda in its entirety is dead on arrival, as it clearly does not reflect the values of our esteemed institution.

“The Nigerian Army is a secular organisation that upholds the principle of religious freedom for all its personnel and ensures that personnel, irrespective of ranks, is free to practice their religions without any form of bias or endorsement of a specific religion.

“Our unwavering commitment to secularism guarantees that religious diversity is respected and accommodated, allowing soldiers to observe their faith without hindrance to their duties.

“For clarity, the NA operates multiple religious training institutions to cater to the diverse faiths of our personnel.

“In addition to the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs located in NA Cantonment Ikeja, Lagos, the NA also has the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment.

“These schools frequently engage in interfaith collaborations, promoting unity and cohesion among our diverse members.

“Our dedication to secularism is aimed at fostering a professional and inclusive environment where individuals can serve their country without fear of religious discrimination or bias.

“This approach ensures that all officers and soldiers can practice their beliefs in a supportive and respectful setting.

“The NA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the values of secularism and religious freedom, ensuring that all personnel can serve with dignity and respect for their individual beliefs,” it said.