CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF DENIES SOLDIERS' ALLEGATION AGANST TOP OFFICERS OF 7  DIVISION 
SAYS "WE DONT SELL UNIFORMS TO OUR SOLDIERS " 

Chief of Amy Staff, Lt Gen. Ihejirika  taking salute while inspecting  Guard  of Honor mounted for hm at the Hqrs  7 Division , Ngeria  Army, Maiduguri . (Photo by Abdulkaeem Haruna Umar)

By Abdulkareem Haruna Umar 

Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff,  Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika, had this week described as unfounded the allegations made by soldiers in the newly created 7 Div of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, that army uniforms and kits are being illegally sold to them, instead  of given out freely.

Soldiers had told journalists in confidence that their superiors are in the habit extorting money from hem in exchange of  military fatigue and kits.

Others say it wasn't all of them that could afford to get such high priced uniforms.

Some say they had to resort to khakis they got during he UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan, Mali and other African countries.

"The pride of a soldier is his khaki, clean, crispy and shiny boots", said an aggrieved soldier. "But here we are in beaten uniforms. We are all looking different because everyone wears different patter of uniforms".

Lt General Ihejirika had said that the had recently approved  the release of 7000 sets of Uniforms for soldiers. And had very recently too released 40, 000 pairs of boots fro solders especially hose in the northeast Nigeria.

Solders say they still haven't seen any of the touted uniforms and boots.

Soldiers who also lament being kept unnecessarily beyond their prescribed six months in the peace keeping mission said the unfair handling of their welfare issues by top ranked soldiers kill their morale and risk sabotage of the war against the Boko Haram terrorism.