The Nigerian Army has declared that it cannot drag issues with any person or non-governmental organisation over the identity of the girl alleged to be the second Chibok girl rescued by the Army.

Following a clear out operation in Sambisa Forest by the army, a teenage girl identified as Serah Luka had been rescued from captivity by the gallant troops.

She was believed to be one of the 219 girls that have been in the custody of Boko Haram since April 2014 after they were kidnapped from Government Secondary School in Chibok.

In a new twist however, Chibok community leader Pogu Bitrus today told the Associated Press that the 2nd rescued girl was not among the missing Chibok girls sparking up a boatload of controversies with the Army at the center of it.

YNaija spoke to the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman and he insisted on the army’s account of events.

“I don’t know why people talk like this,” Usman said. “The Nigerian Army is a constitutional established institution and should be respected as such. The Army has been fighting against these Boko Haram terrorists for 6 years now. We have a new government that has injected life into the team and we are winning now.

“In one year, the army has succeeded in clearing out the terrorists from the Sambisa Forest and rescue a lot of people that the terrorists have been holding on to. By our records, we have rescued over 12,000 and from the rescue of the 2 Chibok girls, we are now closer to rescuing the other abducted girls. Why are people talking like this?”

Reacting to the claims that the Army lied about the identity of Serah Luka, Usman said, “The army doesn’t talk in vain. Before we say anything, we crosscheck our facts and make sure that it is right.

“In the case of Serah, there is no doubt that she was abducted from Government Secondary School in Chibok by Boko Haram terrorists. She has been screened and debriefed by the army and no records from constitutionally relevant agencies have proven to be contrary to ours. If the principal of the school should come and say that she was not one of her students, then the Army would have to talk.”

Usman further explained that the outcry against the successes of the army is just bitterness from people who have been gaining from the continued incarceration of the Chibok school girls.

He said, “Some people set up NGOs and took advantage of the kidnapped Chibok girls to get money from organisations and now that the Army is recording successes and getting close to rescuing the rest of the girls, they know that their plans would fall apart.

“This operation cost us the life of a soldier but these people will not commend the army. They will not commend the sacrifice of fellow Nigerians like them who are fighting to keep them safe.

“The Army has absolutely no reason to lie. We just say it as it is.”