*Political Analyst Reportedly Arrested For Criticising Akpabio
THE Nigerian Army has clarified that popular northern social media personality, Haruna Garba Gololo, also known as Garus Gololo, “is neither a retired officer nor a General in the Nigerian Army.”
The Army, in a statement posted on its verified X-handle, on Tuesday, May 26, said it was, therefore wrong to refer to the political analyst as a “retired Nigerian Army General,” adding that such misinformation was capable of misleading the public and “can create wrong impressions and undermine public trust in national institutions.”
The Army urged media organisations to exercise due diligence and uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism, particularly on matters concerning the Armed Forces, urging the relevant platforms to correct the error to prevent the spread of misinformation.
It further urged the public to disregard the claim and rely on verified information from credible sources, while reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, transparency and the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
In a recent media report, Gololo, who was reportedly arrested at Grand Square Supermarket in Abuja, following controversial remarks he made against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, over the lawmaker’s comments regarding next year’s presidential election, was refered to a a retired General of the Army.
Galolo, who was also reported to have held several strategic positions in the Army before retiring, was taken in for questioning after a video surfaced online in which he strongly criticised Akpabio’s alleged remarks suggesting that President Bola Tinubu would return next year, “whether northerners like it or not.”
The comments reportedly triggered reactions among Northern political stakeholders, with Gololo accusing Akpabio of disrespecting northerners and questioned his political legitimacy, insisting that Nigerians have the constitutional right to decide who to vote for in the elections without intimidation.
Gololo also accused Akpabio of corruption, referencing past investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying northerners would make their own political decisions ahead of the elections, even as he declared support for opposition politicians, such as former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, insisting no political office holder has the authority to dictate voting preferences to citizens.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest and whereabouts remained unclear at press time.
