Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last general election has called for the setting up of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate claims of the secret burial of soldiers in the North East made by Wall Street Journal.
The WSJ had in an article titled, “Nigeria Buries Soldiers at Night in Secret Cemetery” alleged that the military buried soldiers in unmarked graves in the North East.
The subtitle of the article read, “While president says war against Islamist insurgency is won, army conceals toll in unmarked graves”.
Reacting via his verified Twitter handle, Atiku said, “To ensure that we get to the bottom of this matter, I urge that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by a non-partisan and reputable jurist, be inaugurated to investigate the findings of the Wall Street Journal.
“While this is ongoing, I strongly urge a panel of inquiry comprising distinguished former military officers be set up to investigate and report to Nigerians the true state of the war on terror and what must be done to ensure Nigeria brings a speedy end to the ongoing insurgency.”
Atiku added, “Even the death of one soldier affects me. But the alleged cover-up of the deaths of scores of soldiers is a national emergency that should shock all statesmen and leaders of thoughts into action to save Nigeria.”
The Defence Headquarters has since denied the claims of the WSJ.
See tweet thread:
Atiku Abubakar
✔
@atiku
· 31m
Replying to @atiku
I cannot fathom that in the space of a year, scores of these great patriots were killed and buried secretly without their families being told. I hesitate to believe that deceit on such a grand scale is even possible.
Atiku Abubakar
✔
@atiku
To ensure that we get to the bottom of this matter, I urge that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by a non-partisan and reputable jurist, be inaugurated to investigate the findings of the Wall Street Journal.
30
4:40 PM – Aug 1, 2019
Punch
