…apologises to victim’s family
The Nigeria Army (NA), on Thursday, said it has taken cognizance of a video clip circulating on social media which shows how a female officer dehumanising a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State.
In the video which has now gone viral, the victim was seen dressed in her full NYSC uniform, the army officer forced her to kneel down and she was seen pouring a liquid substance, suspected to be dirty water on her while intermittently hitting her with the container.
Confirming the unprofessional conduct of the officer in a statement on Thursday, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, said the act was not only condemnable, but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA.
He said, the NA has remained undoubtedly the pride of the nation, a symbol of national unity that has consistently being in the vanguard of respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.
” It is against this premise that the NA condemns this unimaginable level of infraction by a personnel in its ranks,” the statement said.
The military spokesman said NA condemns in strong terms, the act of gross misconduct.
“Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions has caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable,” he said.
Brigadier General Nwachukwu added that, the unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety.
He said the Brigade Commander immediately instituted an investigation and the officer involved has been identified and sanctioned on the interim and would be made to undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
“The submission that the Brigade attempted covering up was, therefore, misleading, as the NA remains a professional force that has zero tolerance for indiscipline amongst its personnel”, he said in a statement on the incident.
According to the statement, the NA “wishes to reiterate and assure the general public that such infractions would not be tolerated from its personnel”.
He reassured that the rights of the citizenry is sacrosanct and must be respected by all personnel of the NA, as any form of infraction will be severely dealt with.
“Therefore, the general public is enjoined to continue to report such infractions, as Human Rights Desks in all formations of the NA are emplaced to deal decisively with such erring personal,” the stated added.
He said; “The NA further wishes to tender unreserved apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment meted out to the Corps member”.