After spending three days in the custody of the Nigerian Army, popular cartoonist, Mike Asukwo of BusinessDay, says he’s now a friend of the Army.

“I have been with the Nigerian Army, Umuahia the past 3 days and received the kind of commendable hospitality, respect and kindness that took me by surprise. Our soldiers are great guys. I am a friend of the Army now, “  he wrote on his social media wall.

In a short video, Asukwo whom the Army said was invited, not arrested. He was later released by the Nigerian military after honouring their invitation.

According to a statement by Sagir Musa, Aching Director of Army Public Affairs, Asukwo was never arrested but was invited by the Army on a matter that has no correlation with covid-19 lockdown which he was privy to.

The full statement below:

Please be informed that Mr Mike Asukwo that was earlier allegedly reported on social media to have been arrested by troops of 145 Battalion rear deployed at Abia Express Towers Umuahia along with four others  has been released yesterday. He was reportedly ‘arrested’ at the towers on his way from Lagos to Calabar on the 8th of May 2020.

In order to correct the erroneous impression created earlier in the social media, Mr Asukwo was never arrested but was invited by the army in Umuahia in respect of an investigation in a matter which he is privy to. He has since via his Facebook page and Twitter handle dismissed the claim that he was arrested.

Nigerian Army is not involved in the enforcement of Lockdown and so he was not invited or ‘arrested’ in connection with restriction of movement order as mischievously claimed or reported.

Members of the public are please requested to disregard the fake news and the wrong impression earlier created by the report.