Nigerian Army confirms video of officer dehumanising female corps member, apologises to victim’s family

The Nigerian Army (NA), on Thursday, said it has taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on social media. The video showed how a female officer dehumanized a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State, kanyidaily reports.

Recall that on September 22, 2021, a military officer serving in the 13th Brigade Command of the Nigerian Army in Calabar simply identified as Lt. Chika Viola Anele was allegedly caught on camera dehumanizing a female Youth Corps member.
The victim, whose name was given as Ezeiruaku Ifenyinwa Fidelia, a female corps member was reportedly serving in the 13th Brigade.

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In the video which has now gone viral, the victim was seen dressed in her full NYSC uniform, the army officer forced her to kneel down and she was seen pouring a liquid substance, suspected to be dirty water on her while intermittently hitting her with the container.

Confirming the unprofessional conduct of the officer in a statement on Thursday, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu,
Director Army Public Relations, said
the act was not only condemnable, but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA.

He said, 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 statement said.

According to him, 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,” he said.

He added that, the unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in anyway represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety. For the record, the ugly incident happened in 13 Brigade, Calabar.

It said 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 statement claims that, “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.”

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According to him, the NA wishes to reiterate and assure the general public that such infractions would not be tolerated from its personnel.

He added that, the NA also reassured 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 personal,” he said.

It said 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