Assault on corps member: Army arrests female officer

Following a viral video in the social media showing a female Nigerian Army officer of the Nigerian Army assaulting a female National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, NACMP, have arrested the officer shown in the video.

The video was first posted by the Calabar, Cross River State based online blogger and activist, Citizen Agba Jalingo, on his blog, the Crossriverwatch.

The online journalist later gave the name of the Army officer as Lieutenant Chika Viola Anene, while the name of the corps member was given as Ezeiruaku Ifeyinwa Fidelia.

The NYSC member, Nigerian Tribune gathered, was assigned to the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Calabar, for her Primary Assignment in the one year compulsory NYSC scheme.

It was further gathered that Ezeiruaku got in an argument with the female Lieutenant, who forced the corps member to a kneeling position, while the Army officer began to pour a whitish substance on her, hitting the NYSC member with a bowl.

Jalingo, in his prelude to the video had written: “JusticeForIfenyinwa. This is what a commissioned female Army officer, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, did to a youth corps member, Ezeiruaku Ifeyinwa Fidelia, serving at the 13 Brigade headquarters in Calabar after having an argument.”

While the time the video was shot was not stated, the subdued corps member was seen drenched in her NYSC kits as the female Army officer continued to pour the substance on her, hitting her with the bowl intermittently.

Taking hold of the video, it was gathered that the Army authorities ordered the NACMP to arrest Lieutenant Anele, who was said to be undergoing interrogation, preparatory to further Military regulatory actions for such misdemeanour.

Confirming the development on Thursday evening, the Nigerian Army, NA, said it had taken cognizance of the video clip,describing Anele’ action as “unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA”.

The Army authorities, while assuring that justice would be served in the matter, apologised to the corps member.

The Army, in a statement titled: ” Officer Dehumanizing Corps Member in video highly Unprofessional and Unacceptable”, and endorsed by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, read:

“The Nigerian Army (NA) has taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on the social media, where a female officer was seen dehumanizing a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State. This act is not only condemnable, but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA.

“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 NA therefore, condemns in strong terms, this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions has caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in anyway represent the NA and will 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.”

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