- More Heads To Roll Over Brutality Of Citizens
Two soldiers on Operation Egwu Eke II (Python Dance II), in Abia state, are currently undergoing punishments by the Nigerian Army authorities, for attacking and assaulting journalists in the state.
The army headquarters, which announced this on Thursday, in Abuja, further assured that it was investigating the brutalities on the people of Abia, allegedly perpetrated by troops on the operation and would punish the culprits accordingly.
Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, who conveyed army’s position while reviewing the operation during a television programme, said it was army’s decision that it would never condone such ill -behaviours and unprofessional conducts by any of its soldiers.
Early in the week, some soldiers during a show of force in Abia, invaded the Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Umuahia, where they assaulted the journalists, destroyed their work tools, accusing them of taking photographs of their exercise.
The troops’ action which attracted serious condemnations, came after the bitter encounter between members of the Independent People Of Biafra, IPOB, and soldiers in the state.
Speaking on the matter, the army’s spokesman said that the troops took laws into their hands by invading the NUJ secretariat for whatever reason and meting out assault on journalists.
Usman said that the soldiers, who carried out that unlawful acts against standard operational guidelines and rules of engagement, have since been identified and sanctioned.
The DAPR hinted that the crisis has been resolved and peace made with the aggrieved, even though the NUJ has pressed for compensations.
“In the case of NUJ, the leadership of the army has gone there and the matter has been settled. Two soldiers have been identified and disciplinary actions has been taken against them.
” We have spelt out code of conduct and rules of engagement for the operation and soldiers are expected to abide by them. If they fail they will be punished.
“We won’t condone any act that of indiscipline on the part of our troops. Be rest assured that we will deal with it accordingly”, the army spokesman said.
He noted that although there are reports of misbehaviours by some troops which is expected, as army did not rule out the fact that anything cound go wrong, they have however not caused any death in the operation in Abia, saying, ” there is no death in Abia. Anything you have been hearing is not true, no life was lost.”
The mission is officially commencing today, as earlier declared by the Army headquarters las Friday, but since last Sunday, tension in Abia has heightened following the heavy presence of soldiers in the state, but Usman said that this tension was unintended and uncalled for, as the army had carried out similar operation before, saying that mischief makers have heightened this for political reasons.
He said that the army meant well for the people of South East, as it was intended to make the end of year safer for them, as done previously and the army was requested to embark on it again.
Usman aaded that the army had always been there in the state, regretting that some group of people want to pitch the society against the army.
