The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Gabriel Okoye, Commanding Officer of the 20 Model Battalion, was killed in a bandit attack.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, the Army described the reports as “misleading, inaccurate, and devoid of verified facts.”
According to the statement, Lt. Col. Okoye died on June 13, 2026, after a brief illness, not as a result of any operational incident or attack.
“The circumstances surrounding his demise are clear and have been duly communicated through official channels,” the Army noted.
The military expressed concern over the spread of false narratives, warning that such speculation was insensitive to the bereaved family and damaging to public confidence.
It cautioned that unverified information could cause unnecessary anxiety among personnel, their families, and the wider public.
The Army further criticized individuals and media platforms for speculating
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