The Defence Headquarters has urged Nigerians to disregard allegations concerning the Nigerian military’s participation in the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, describing them as “malicious.”
It also called for greater support for service members, particularly those injured in the line of duty.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, addressed the issue in a statement on Monday, clarifying that the military had received an official invitation to the competition.
The team included three officers and 21 players, along with a physiotherapist.
According to Gusau, the Invictus Games Foundation covered accommodation and feeding for all participating teams, including Nigeria.
However, visa approvals posed a challenge for the Nigerian delegation.
“Despite our best efforts, only 14 members of the team were granted visas, excluding the team leader, captain, and physiotherapist,” Gusau stated.
“Unfortunately, seven of our athletes, who had the potential to excel, were denied visas, preventing them from participating.”
Despite this setback, Gusau emphasized that Nigeria’s team performed exceptionally well, securing gold, silver, and bronze medals at the competition.
“Our team’s outstanding performance placed Nigeria and Africa on the global map of the Invictus Games,” he said.
Gusau also noted that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had been scheduled to attend the event to boost troop morale.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the well-being of wounded personnel, including the establishment of the Invictus Foundation Centre—the first of its kind in Africa.
“This initiative aims to provide care and mental healing for our wounded personnel,” he explained.
The DHQ urged Nigerians to support the military’s efforts in safeguarding the nation while ensuring accurate information prevails in public discourse.
