Nigerian Army’s Commendable Reaction to Soldiers’ Inhumaneness

The Nigerian Army on Thursday court-marshalled two soldiers who assaulted a physically-challenged man in Onitsha for allegedly wearing a military camouflage shirt. Footage of the soldiers mercilessly whipping and booting the man in broad daylight and in the middle of the road went viral shortly after the incident on Tuesday.

But a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said the Army had apprehended the soldiers and charged them with assault. Corporal Bature Samuel and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman were demoted to privates and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment with hard labour. This is commendable.

More of such disciplinary measures are needed to curb the brutish attitude of many military and police personnel towards the civilian populace in the country, which has become so pervasive that it is almost accepted as part of the uniformed or security service. – Vincent Obia

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