Soldiers battering physically challenged man in Onitsha
The Nigerian Army has surprisingly announced mild punishment for the two soldiers who heavily assaulted and battered a physically challenged man.
Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, in a statement on Friday said Bature Samuel and Abdulazeez Usman, who were both corporals have been demoted to privates and imprisoned for 21 days for the assault and battery, which was intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, also said the army has reached out to the victim, Chijoke Uraku.
Below is Mr. Usman’s full statement:
“Sequel to the video clip of two soldiers maltreating a physically challenged man on the streets of Onitsha, Anambra State, last Tuesday, in line with our zero tolerance of infringement of human rights by troops, those involved; Corporal Bature Samuel and Corporal Abdulazeez Usman of 82 Provost Company, have been arrested, summarily tried based on 2 count charges and found guilty.
“Consequently, both have been sentenced to reduction in rank; from Corporal to Private Soldiers and 21 days Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) respectively, which includes forfeiture of 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media.
“We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times. Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated.”
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY regrets that the Nigerian Army would tolerate such unprofessional and callous soldiers. Such people have no business in the military and are a disgrace to the army, held in highest esteem by all and looked up to by the ordinary man to provide protection when the need arises.
The punishment meted out to those soldiers of disgrace is only protectionist in nature. The question is: would a court of competent jurisdiction only imprison such beasts for only 21 days for such assault and battery that was intended and did cause grievous bodily harm?
Imprisonment apart, the Nigerian Army should be interested in sanitizing its rank and file and should have dismissed Samuel and Usman from the service. Their temperament and mindset, which were manifested in the video that went viral on Social Media, makes them unfit and unworthy to be called soldiers.
The Nigerian Army, through this mild punishment, has only sent a wrong message.
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