Group condemns new Army posting

…Says its ethno religious, lopsided

A group on the aegis of International Society for Civil Liberation has decried the recent Army posting, suggesting that the exercise could mar the 2023 general elections.

The group which decried the exercise less than 45 days to February 25 presidential election as lopsided said the Army authorities have continued to leave the high command cadre of the force in the hands of Northerners, particularly members of the Muslim population.

They noted that soldiers often treat non Muslims as if they permanently belong to homogeneous theocratic Islamic state. The group further condemned an alleged massive deployment of Senior Muslim officers to the South East and South South Regions despite lamentation by the citizenry.

They called for indigenisation and allocation of General Officers Commands (GOCs) posts of the 6 Division Port Harcourt and the 82 Division Enugu to senior army officers from the South East in line with the Federal Character Act of 2004.

According to the statement signed by the group’s  chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the head of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Obianuju Igboeli and Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, Chidinma Udegbunam further noted that the postings are not only ethno religiously lopsided but escalate ethno religious insecurity and insurgency by giving one ethno – religious group upper hand over others, including unhindered access to state coercive instruments.