Nigerian Army arrests officer for dehumanizing female corps member
The Nigerian Army (NA) says it has taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on the social media, where a female officer was seen dehumanizing a female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State and arrested the culprit.
The army in a statement issued by Brigadier General Onyeama Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, on Thursday, described the officer’s act as not only condemnable, but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the army.
The statement said the army remained undoubtedly the pride of the nation, a symbol of national unity that had consistently been in the vanguard of respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry, stressing that it was against this premise that the army condemned such unimaginable level of infraction by a personnel in its ranks.
It further said that the army condemned in strong terms, such act of gross misconduct. adding that the officer’s actions had caused the army monumental embarrassment and was highly regrettable.
Nwachukwu said that such unfortunate act of indiscipline did not in anyway represent the army and would not be condoned in its entirety.
“For the records, the ugly incident happened in 13 Brigade, Calabar. 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.
“The NA wishes to reiterate and assure the general public that such infractions would not be tolerated from its personnel.
“The NA also reassures 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 personnel.
“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,” Nwachukwu said in the statement..
