Nigerian Army has condemned the video of an officer dehumanising a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State, describing the act as highly unprofessional and unacceptable.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Nigerian Army (NA) has said the video clip which is currently making the rounds on social media, is against the established precepts of discipline in the NA.
The Army condemned this in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
Nwachukwu wrote, “The NA has remained undoubtedly the pride of the nation, a symbol of national unity that has consistently been in the vanguard of respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry.”
He noted that it is against this premise that “the NA condemns this unimaginable level of infraction by personnel in its ranks. The NA therefore, condemns in strong terms, this act of gross misconduct.”
The Army Spokesman while stating that this act has undoubtedly caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable, said “this unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety.”
While noting that the ugly incident happened in 13 Brigade, Calabar, Nwachukwu said the Brigade Commander has 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.”
He added that the submission that the Brigade attempted covering up was misleading, as the NA remains a professional force that has zero-tolerance for indiscipline amongst its personnel.
The statement read further, “the NA wishes to reiterate and assure the general public that such infractions would not be tolerated by 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.”
The Army Spokesman, therefore, enjoined the general public 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 Nigerian Army further tendered an 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.
