The two
soldiers who allegedly tortured a cripple on Tuesday along the New Market Road,
Osha in Onitsha, Anambra State, were court-martialled on Thursday.
Our
correspondent learnt that the soldiers, whose names had yet to be disclosed by
the army, had also been discharged from their unit and summoned to the 82
Division, Enugu State.
Also, it was
learnt that the victim was billed to meet with the military authorities at the
82 Division on Friday (today).
The Deputy
Director, Army Public Relations, who is also the spokesman for the 82 Division,
Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the soldiers’ trial, adding that the victim had been
invited.
PUNCH Metro
had reported on Thursday that a video footage, which went viral, showed the
soldiers allegedly dragging and flogging the crippled man for dressing in
camouflage.
It was
reported that in the video posted by one Prince Ifeanyichukwu Emmanuel on
Facebook, one of the soldiers dispossessed the man of his wheelchair and threw
it away. The soldier then held the victim by the hand and dragged him on the
road as his colleague joined him to flog the man.
The video,
which was recorded on Tuesday, also showed the victim begging the soldiers,
unsuccessfully, to escape the assault.
The Nigerian
Army had, in a statement late on Wednesday, said it had identified and arrested
the soldiers.
The
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.Gen. Sani Usman, said, “In line with our
zero tolerance for acts of indiscipline and unprofessional conducts, especially
in relation to violation of human rights, we wish to state that the soldiers
involved have since been identified and apprehended.
“They have
also been charged with assault by their Commanding Officer. Similarly, troops
have been warned to desist from acts that infringe on human rights and cast
serious aspersions on the good image of the Nigerian Army.”
PUNCH Metro
learnt on Thursday that the soldiers had been summoned to the 82 division
headquarters, Enugu.
The division
spokesperson, Colonel Musa, said, “The soldiers have been tried at the unit
level in Onitsha, and referred to the higher level for appropriate punishment
commensurate with the offence committed.
“The victim
has also been invited and he will meet with us on Friday. We also have a press
conference where the issue will be discussed in detail. Whatever human rights
infraction is seen with our men, appropriate sanctions will be applied to serve
as deterrence to others. This case will not be an exception.”
Meawhile,
the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Abuja on
Thursday condemned the attack on the victim by soldiers for dressing in
camouflage.
A statement
issued by the National President of JONAPWD, Ekaete Umoh, said the attack on
the crippled man contravened his fundamental human rights and was inimical to
the course of the rule of law.
She said, “We
detest the treatment and call for proper investigation, prosecution and justice
should take its course in this matter.
“We also
call for the speedy harmonisation of the disabled persons billspassed by both
the Senate and House of Representatives. President Muhammadu Buhari should
assent to the bill for it to become law.”
0 Comments