A viral incident shows soldiers allegedly brutalizing a civilian for overtaking their vehicle. Acting COAS directs immediate investigation.
A viral video circulating on social media shows a senior army officer and two soldiers assaulting a man in the Abuja metropolis.
The army personnel, including a Major General and his escorts, were observed assaulting the man for ‘overtaking’ their vehicle.
In the 1:57-minute video viewed by Channels Television, the man is shown groaning in pain and repeatedly exclaiming, “How did I pass your car! How did I pass your car! Oh My God!” as he was being brutalized by the soldiers.
Despite their own discomfort, the soldiers continued to beat the man relentlessly while a woman could be heard shouting in the background, “He is not well! He’s not well! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”
The female passenger was also targeted by the army personnel for recording the incident.
One of the soldiers was heard shouting, “Hand over the phone! Hand over the phone!” while assaulting the woman.
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The video has sparked widespread outrage online, with additional reports indicating that the man is suing and seeking N150 million in compensation as well as the dismissal of the Major General.
In response to the video, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, has initiated an investigation into the incident of brutality.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, it was noted that the investigation aims to “unravel” the circumstances surrounding the video. The details of the incident are presently “not clear.”
The statement noted, “The Nigerian Army (NA) has become aware of a viral audio-visual recording that is circulating on social media platforms. The video allegedly depicts a senior Army officer and two other soldiers involved in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis.”
The details of what led to this incident remain unclear at present. Nevertheless, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has called for an immediate investigation to uncover the true events surrounding this altercation.
The NA is dedicated to serving and protecting all law-abiding Nigerians, as outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He encouraged the public to remain confident that thorough due diligence will be conducted to arrive at a logical conclusion on the matter.
