The Nigerian Army has denied reports identifying Haruna Garba Gololo, also known as Garus Gololo, as a retired General, stating that he was never a member of the military.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that in a statement released on Tuesday, the Army said Gololo had never served as either a soldier or officer in the Nigerian Army at any time. The military authority described the claim linking him to the Army as false and capable of misleading the public.
The reaction followed a report which described Gololo as a retired Nigerian Army General who was allegedly arrested in Abuja after criticizing Senate President Godswill Akpabio over comments connected to the 2027 election.
According to the Army, portraying Gololo as a retired senior officer could create confusion and damage public confidence in the institution. The statement maintained that the man in question had no connection with the Nigerian Army and had never worked with the force in any capacity.
The Army also called on Nigerians to ignore the description attached to Gololo in the report and urged media organisations to properly verify information relating to the Armed Forces before publication.
It further appealed to news platforms that carried the report to make corrections in line with responsible journalism and accurate reporting.
The military said false identification of individuals as members of the Armed Forces could affect the image and integrity of the institution if not properly addressed.
The Nigerian Army also repeated its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity as part of its constitutional duties.
The controversy comes after reports emerged alleging that Gololo was arrested in Abuja following comments he made against Akpabio over statements linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 2027 presidential election.