Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has dissociated itself from the faceless organiser of a 3-Day Charity Exercise/10 km Trek 2021, purported to be organised in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) in Uyo.
According to the Nigerian Army, the brigade was undaunted with invitation, which carried the headed paper of Armed Forces Barracks Rehabilitation Foundation soliciting for sponsorship of the 10 km trek from individuals and organisations.
This was contained in a statement issued by the 2 Brigade Nigerian Army and signed by Lt. Solomon Atang, on behalf of the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Saturday.
Atang in the statement said that the brigade and indeed the NAOWA have nothing to do with the said 3-day charity exercise/10km trek and called on the public to discountenance such activities.
He said the faceless group was out to defraud the innocent members of the public, as the notice did not emanate from NAOWA or 2 Brigade Nigerian Army.
“The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) 2 Brigade Chapter, Uyo, has been notified of a letter of invitation on “A 3- Day Charity Exercise/10km Trek 2021”.
“The invitation which carries the letterhead, Armed Forces Barracks Rehabilitation Foundation” further requested organisations/individuals for sponsorship.
“Consequently, the NAOWA 2 Brigade Chapter wishes to state unequivocally that neither NAOWA nor 2 Brigade Nigerian Army has organised such exercise.
“For the sake of the good people of Akwa Ibom and Nigerians to whom the Nigerian Army is accountable, it is sacrosanct to emphasise that the said invitation is the handwork of scammers, who want to defraud victims of their valuables.
“The said spurious invitation should therefore be discountenanced by the general public, as Nigerian Army is making efforts to identify the initiators for arrest and possible prosecution,” Atang said.
He explained that the 2 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with other security agencies in Akwa Ibom had on Oct. 4 kick-off exercise tagged, “Exercise Still Water” with the aim of flushing out criminals from the state as the yuletide approaches.