The Nigerian Army has commenced a probe into an attack by Major General G. S. Mohammed and some of his aides, including Corporal A. Abubakar, on a would-be couple, Vershima Mker and Jennifer Lami.
The attack, which was captured on video, was said to have been carried out in the Gwarimpa area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to the couple, who spoke through their lawyer, Tom Uja, with The PUNCH, General Mohammed and his aides attacked the couple along 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Uja, who has since petitioned the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, said Mker and Lami were out preparing for their big day when they encountered the General.
He told The PUNCH: “Part of their marital arrangements took them to Gwarinpa.
“As they were driving out along the 3rd Avenue, this General and his convoy were behind them.
“As soon as they heard the sound of the siren, they trafficated to the right to park.
“But some roadside vendors were selling many things, so they needed to go past them.
“This was within seconds before they would park.
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“As soon as they drove past the three or four roadside sellers, they parked their vehicle.
“The General and his convoy now overtook them and went and blocked them.
“His anger was that they didn’t park immediately when they heard the siren.
“Without waiting for any explanation, they descended into beating the young man’s eye.
“They handcuffed them after beating them.
“They put them inside the boot of one of their cars and took them to the police station.
“The DPO (Divisional Police Officer) had to call the General when the man was crying in pain and needed treatment.
“The lady also suffered a fracture on his hand as a result of the incident.
“They were made to write an apology letter to the General under duress before they were allowed to go on bail.
“As I speak, doctors are battling to save that eye.
“After my petition was sent, the General has been threatening my clients.
“We demand for the immediate dismissal of Major General G.S. Mohammed and Corporal A. Abubakar and the sum of N150 million for their inhuman treatment of our clients by beating, subjecting them to abuse, wounding and causing them to be detained at the Police without they committing any known crime.”
Reacting to the development, the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, on Tuesday in Abuja said Lieutenant General Oluyede has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged brutality.
Nwachukwu said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a viral audio-visual recording circulating on social media platforms, purportedly showing a senior Army officer and 2 other soldiers in an altercation with a man and woman within the Abuja metropolis.
“The circumstances leading to this incident are not clear at the moment.
“However, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the true circumstances surrounding this altercation.
“The NA remains committed to serving and protecting all law-abiding Nigerians as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Therefore, we urge the public to be rest assured that due diligence will be applied to reach a logical conclusion on this matter.”
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