The Nigerian Army has firmly rejected claims circulating in a viral video that accuse it of promoting Islamisation through the establishment of the Nigerian Army School of Islamic Affairs.
The video alleges that the school, described as a “force of unity in a secular country,” is instead being used to advance a religious agenda.
It draws comparisons to situations in countries like Turkey and Libya, where similar moves reportedly sparked crises from which they are still recovering.
The video further urged the military to concentrate on tackling insecurity, terrorism, and protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity rather than engaging in “divisive” policies.
In response, the Army released a statement dismissing the claims as false and misleading.
“The Nigerian Army has been notified of a misleading viral report suggesting that the NA only runs a School of Islamic Affairs, ignoring other faiths,” the statement said.
“The report also attempted to portray the Army as promoting religious bigotry among its personnel.”
Calling the allegations baseless, the Army reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s secular values and religious freedom for all personnel.
“The Nigerian Army is a secular institution that respects religious freedom and ensures all personnel—regardless of rank or faith—are free to practice their religion without bias or preference,” the statement continued.
“We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can serve without fear of religious discrimination.”
To clarify, the Army said it operates multiple faith-based training institutions, not just the School of Islamic Affairs located in Ikeja, Lagos.
Others include the Nigerian Army Protestant Training School in Yaba and the Nigerian Army Chaplain Catholic Training School in Ojo Cantonment.
“These institutions engage in interfaith collaboration and aim to strengthen unity among personnel of different religious backgrounds,” the Army stated.
It concluded by emphasizing that the Army’s approach to religious inclusion is designed to support a professional military environment where service members can practice their faith while fulfilling their duties with dignity and mutual respect.