Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya
The Nigerian Army has said it has ordered an investigation into a trending video of its personnel assaulting a civilian at a hotel in Kaduna state.
In the video, some persons clad in military camouflage were seen molesting civilians.
However, in a statement on Sunday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, said the culprits if found culpable would be punished according to the Armed Forces Acts.
The statement partly read, “A provocative and unacceptable video footage trending on social media, has been brought to the attention of the Nigerian Army. The condemnable incident which was said to have taken place at 2Season Hotel and Resorts, Kaduna is an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity that the Army represents.
“As a disciplined and regimented force committed to the supremacy of the constitution, defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation as well as aid to civil authorities, the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for any act inimical to the rights and well-being of the citizenry.
“Consequently, authorities of the Nigerian Army have directed an immediate investigation into the audio-visual footage to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.
“The outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage, who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be Nigerian Army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Acts.”
He urged all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter and to report any untoward conduct by troops to the Nigerian Army Human Rights Desks at the Headquarters Nigerian Army or the Divisions Headquarters.
