6 soldiers detained for beating woman in Lagos

According to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, the soldiers who are attached to the 174 Battalion, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State, the soldiers were rounded up following a Board of Inquiry (BOI), set up to investigate the matter.

The incident, according to the spokesman of the Division, Lt.-Col. Olaolu Daudu, occurred on March 12, 2017, close to the military formation.

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The soldiers had descended on Orji and brutalized her, causing her severe injuries for daring to ask them what her brother's offense was that warranted them slapping him.

The Joint Legal Action Aids which is representing Orji has already sued the military authorities and are demanding the sum of N250 million in damages for the assault.

The Nigerian Army posted on its Facebook page that there is an ongoing investigation into the allegation and that the six soldiers have being detained with regards to the incident.

Read the statement of the Army here:

"ALLEGED CASE OF BRUTALIZATION BY SOLDIERS

1. The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to the social media and Newspapers online reports on 'Alleged brutalization of a female by soldiers'.

The incident occurred in Odoguyan, Ikorodu area of Lagos State involving soldiers of 174 Battalion on Sunday 12 March 2017.

2. The alleged incident is highly regrettable, even as the Division under the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for inhumane treatment. Discipline remains the bedrock of the Nigerian Military profession.

It is quite disheartening when such incidences occur even though isolated, will not be treated with any laxity.

Consequently, a Board of Inquiry has been constituted by the Commander 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Elias Attu, to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident, determine the level of the soldiers' involvement, submit its findings and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures which will be communicated.

The female has been taken to hospital where she is responding to treatment while 6 soldiers are being detained in regards to the incident.

Gentlemen of the press, may I thank you for your timely information in bringing such incidences to fore.

The Division remains committed to its tasks as part of the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army. It continues to enjoin all to be law abiding and count on their support and cooperation.

You are please requested to disseminate the information to the general public.

OM DAUDU

Lieutenant Colonel."

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It is hoped that the military authorities will give the matter the utmost attention it requires and punish the soldiers involved in this dastardly act to serve as a deterrent to other personnel who think taking the laws into their hands is a welcome development.