T.Y. Danjuma’s Allegation of Complicity Against the Army in the Wake of Farmers/Herdsmen Crisis: Implication on the Image of the Army and Nigeria

Abstract

At the maiden convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University, Jalingo, a former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma made a statement with an image-destructive implication on the Nigerian Army. The retired General accused the Army of complicity in the wake of farmers/herders crisis in Nigeria. He, as reported by the media, called on Nigerians to rise up in defence of themselves. This statement, no doubt, cast dust on the corporate image of the Army and Nigeria as a whole especially as it rhymes with earlier negative reports against the Army by the Amnesty International organization and international media. This paper, therefore, examines the perception of Nigerians about Danjuma’s allegation of complicity against the Nigerian Army in the face of farmers/herders crisis and its implication on the corporate image of the Army and Nigeria as a whole. The paper which dwells on the excellence theory of public relations collected data through questionnaire from 386 respondents on the bases of simple random sampling. Data collected were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed that Nigerians were supportive of Danjuma’s allegations of complicity against the Army in the farmers/herders crisis. The performance of the Army in the crisis was below expectation. Findings further revealed that Danjuma’s statement has dealt a serious blow to the corporate image of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria as a whole. The paper, therefore, among other things, calls for excellent application of public relations by the Nigerian Army as a way of reducing its lost image.