The Nigerian Army has vowed to investigate the alleged assault of a couple by soldiers, including a major general, in Abuja.
A viral video of the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked widespread outrage on social media.
Eyewitnesses reported that the soldiers stopped the couple for “unlawfully overtaking” their convoy. The video shows men in military uniforms assaulting the man while his wife protested.
The man, visibly in pain, was seen with blood dripping from his forehead after being slapped by one of the soldiers.
“How did I bash your car? Oh God!!” the man exclaimed as he endured the attack.
The couple alleged that after the physical assault, the soldiers, led by the major general, handcuffed them and forced them into the trunk of a car before taking them to the Gwarimpa police station.
At the station, the soldiers reportedly instructed police officers to detain the couple indefinitely.
Another case of brutality pic.twitter.com/Dsf1hjcnU5
— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) November 19, 2024
In a statement on Wednesday, Onyema Nwachukwu, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, confirmed that Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
“The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a viral audio-visual recording circulating on social media platforms, purportedly showing a senior Army officer and 2 other soldiers in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis,” the statement reads.
“The circumstances leading to this incident are not clear at the moment. However, the Acting Chief of Army Staff has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding this altercation.”
The Army reassured the public of its commitment to protecting all law-abiding Nigerians, emphasizing its adherence to constitutional responsibilities.
“We urge the public to be rest assured that due diligence will be applied to reach a logical conclusion on this matter,” Nwachukwu added.
