Soldiers brutalize policeman over alleged ‘wrong parking’

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army reportedly tortured and brutalized a serving police officer, ASP Edet Inyang, for alleged ‘wrong parking’.

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said he has petitioned the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, over the torture and assault of Edet by the soldiers.

Effiong, in a statement on his X handle on Thursday, said the attack happened on the 9th of December 2023, when Edet parked his vehicle at a store close to the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba to purchase some items.

He described the action of the soldiers as a grave violation of fundamental rights, revealing that ASP Edet is still receiving treatment, as his left ear is barely functioning as a result of the assault.

According to him, he has written to the Chief of Army Staff to demand that the offending soldiers be duly punished and adequate compensation paid to the police officer.

Narrating how the incident happened, Effiong said, “The attack happened on the 9th of December 2023. He parked his vehicle at a store close to the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba to purchase some items.

“Upon packing, he heard the voice of a man on mufti whom he would later identify as one Lance Corporal Onyibuchi of the Intelligence Department attached to the 63 Brigade, Asaba, talking from a far distance and speaking in tones which he could not comprehend.”

He said while the ranting was going on, a uniformed soldier approached the police officer and requested him to re-park his vehicle, which he made attempts to comply with the instruction.

He continued, “While he was trying to re-park, the said Lance Corporal approached him and dragged him backwards and asked him why he refused to obey his instructions.

“Edet tried to explain that he did not hear him properly because he was inaudible given the distance between them.

“The next thing was for the said Lance Corporal to start pounding on and brutalizing ASP Edet along with not less than ten other soldiers. They brutalized him till he lost consciousness and they had to take him to the military hospital for medical care.”

While demanding that the offending soldiers be duly punished and adequate compensation paid to the victim, Effiong
lamented that Nigerians cannot continue to live in a nation where their rights are abused brazenly without consequences.