Connect with us

Metro

Army detains 6 soldiers who brutalized woman for protesting her brother’s beating

Published

on

Army detains 6 soldiers who brutalized woman for protesting her brother's beating

The Nigerian Army says it has set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances that led six of its men to allegedly beat up a woman in the Odogunyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos, and landing her in hospital.

According to the army, “The female has been taken to hospital where she is responding to treatment while 6 soldiers are being detained in regards to the incident”.

A statement by Lieutenant Colonel O.M Daudu, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations said the incidence involved soldiers of 174 Battalion on Sunday March 12, 2017.

The statement read in part that “The alleged incident is highly regrettable, even as the Division under the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for inhuman treatment. Discipline remains the bedrock of the Nigerian Military Profession.

“It is quite disheartening when such incidences occur, even though isolated will not be treated with any laxity”.

“Consequently, a Board of Inquiry has been constituted by the Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Elias Attu to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident, determine the level of the soldiers involvement, submit its findings and recommend appropriate disciplinary
measures which will be communicated”, the statement read.

Narrating her ordeal, the lady, identified as Ruth Orji had said the incidence took place at about 8:30pm on Sunday when she and her brother were returning from a birthday party.

Read also: Fayose declares support for Apostle Suleman, blames APC cabal for cleric’s travails

She said that as they were about to leave, some soldiers led by one Major Ibongha, attached to the 174 Battalion, Ikorodu, Lagos State stormed the venue and started beating up people.

According to her, when they beat her brother, she protested. This earned her a slap from the soldiers who bundled her into their vehicle, and took her to their barracks where she was severely beaten.

After the beatings, she was taken to a military hospital but later transferred to the intensive care unit of another hospital in Ikeja.

Already, the Joint Legal Action Aids (JLAA) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Army at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking a N250 million compensation for the victim.

The body said it has also petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, with copies sent to the commanders of relevant military formations on the assault.

According to Kingsley Ughe, General Counsel for the JLAA, “We are not waiting. We have filed a legal process at the Federal High Court against the Nigerian Army and her assailants to assert her rights and demand N250m compensation.

“We are using her case and that of Ebere Ohakwe (an actress who was brutalised by soldiers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in February) to send a message to lawless elements within the military that the days of impunity and degradation of the Nigerian people are over”.

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now

Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. Agbor Chris

    March 16, 2017 at 10:55 am

    The army officers should be cautioned on how they maltreat civilians, they beat like they are the givers of life. Just look at how they turned the woman’s back to something else. Detaining them won’t make them stop this terrible act, they should be punished as well

    • Amaka Okoro

      March 17, 2017 at 4:28 am

      I agree with you.most especially the army there own they there body so i advice they should be punished for there crime

  2. yanju omotodun

    March 16, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    I am happy with the management of our military especially the Army. They are not allowing soldiers to dehumanizing civilians again unlike before where they go Scot free. Thanks to president Buhari.

    • Roland Uchendu Pele

      March 16, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      Listen to yourself.
      Do it one more time, and again, and again.
      Then give yourself a dirty slap for being stupid.
      Thank you for following instructions.

  3. Animashaun Ayodeji

    March 16, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    We often forget the soldiers get trained to fight, just like the dogs are trained to bark. Before you relate with any soldier, on earth has to be conscious of whatever the person would do or say so as to avoid being maltreated, the don’t know how’s to handle human beings

    • Anita Kingsley

      March 16, 2017 at 3:00 pm

      My uncle is a soldier and he doesn’t treat people anyhow, he’s in fact the best man I know in this world. Not all soldiers maltreat people, don’t say what you don’t know!

  4. JOHNSON PETER

    March 16, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Military ought to be a puritanical organization void of irregularities and dehumanising of citizens but it quite unfortunate our Nigerian military especially our Army treat people. Soldiers are only meant to be callous in wars and not within the society. Tell them.

    • Balarabe musa

      March 16, 2017 at 8:09 pm

      Soldiers are not to be callous as you said but not to be too loose for everyone to relate too at the same time. They need draw the line as they are emblem of discipline in the society.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

one × three =