Ahead of Valentine Day tomorrow, February 14, some Civil Society Groups and health related None Governmental Organizations (NGO) have distributed condoms free to many residents that would be out to seek for fun.
The condoms were being distributed in parks and event centres in the territory by the groups even as the city’s residents expressed divergent opinions condoms distribution, with some supporting it and others condemning it. [myad]
The Nigerian Air Force has given a hope of the possible locations in Sambisa Forest, of some of the over 200 female students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, who were abducted by members of Boko Haram in April 2014.
According to the Director of Public Relations at the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the soldiers are being careful in their recent bombardment of the Forest so as not to hit the places where the girls are suspected to be kept by the insurgents.
He told Channels Television that the Air Force is abstaining from attacking the area to make sure that the girls are not hit, adding that the latest aerial bombardment of Sambisa forest had been aimed at the logistics base of the Boko Haram sect.
“We have no fears that the girls are not there because that particular location has been under surveillance for quite a while and we suspected maybe, it is a kind of ammunition depot or maybe a workshop that they are using as their logistics place.
“Once you take off the logistics base, of course you gradually weaken the resolve of the enemy to be able to prosecute any campaign,” he said.
Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said that one of the methods used by the Air Force to locate the girls is the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), which he said has become a force multiplier because it is cheaper to run the platforms.
You are not putting men there (and) the risk of losing human beings is greatly reduced. Again the UAVs have the capability to be airborne for up to eleven hours and its quite cheap to maintain. So, we have been able to employ the UAV to a great extent to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance basically for intelligence gathering on the activities of the Boko Haram.”
He said that the UAVs have also helped the Air Force to understand the terrorists’ pattern of movement and “how to be able to counter them should they want to strike or spring any surprise.” [myad]
Federal Government has approved new Vice Chancellors for 12 federal universities, including the National Open University of Nigeria.
In a statement, the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu said that former Head, Department of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Kayode Soremekun, is the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
While the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State has Professor Auwal Yadudu of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano as its new VC, Professor Fatima Batoul Muktar of the Department of Biology, North West University, Kano is the VC of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State.
A lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Haruna Abdu Kaita is the new VC of Federal University, Dutsin Ma, Katsina State, while Prof. Andrew Haruna of the Department of Linguistics, University of Jos will now function as VC, Federal University, Gashua, Yobe State.
While another lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Magaji Garba, will now be VC in Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed Gani of the Institute of Maritime Studies, Federal University, Kashere in Gombe State has been elevated to the position of VC in the same University.
A lecturer in the Department of Physics, Federal University, Lafia, Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman will henceforth be VC of the same institution even as Prof. Angela Freeman Miri of the Linguistics Department, University of Jos, Plateau state in is now VC of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi state.
The Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State now has Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba of the Post-Graduate School, Imo State University, Owerri as its VC, while Prof. Seth Accra Jaja of the Department of Management, University of Port Harcourt is now the VC of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State. Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano is now the VC of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). [myad]
Janet Jackson, younger sister of late Michael Jackson and her husband, Wissam Al Mana, were spotted leaving the Lazarides art gallery in London on Wednesday. This will be Janet’s first public appearance after denying she had cancer. A mystery illness had forced her to reschedule the dates on her Unbreakable tour, giving way to speculations she had cancer. [myad]
In what is regarded as a mini-general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to conduct eighty (80) court-ordered elections between 27th January to 19th March 2016. A Decision Extract of the Commission shows that the elections will take place across sixteen (16) states and they range from Senatorial, Federal House of Representatives to House of Assembly elections. States in which the elections are scheduled to hold are: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers and Taraba. A breakdown of the elections shows that ten (10) will be for Senatorial Districts: seventeen (17) for Federal House of Representatives; and fifty three (53) for State Houses of Assembly. A summary of the dates for the re-run elections is as follows: Adamawa state, 13th February 2016; Benue state, 20th February 2016; Kaduna state, 20th February 2016; Plateau state, 20th February 2016; Niger state, 20th February 2016; Nasarawa state, 20th February 2016; Kogi state, 20th February 2016; Taraba state, 20th February 2016; Imo state, 20th February 2016; Anambra state, 5th March 2016; Bayelsa state, 5th March 2016; Akwa Ibom state, 12 March 2016; Cross River state, 12th March 2016; and Rivers state 19th March 2016. A statement by the INEC’s spokesman, Nick Dazang said that the re-run elections are categorized into two: Supplementary/Partial and Whole. There will be seventeen Supplementary/Partial re-run elections made up of: one Senatorial; two Federal Constituencies and 14 State Constituency. There will be sixty three whole elections to be conducted as follows: eight Senatorial; 15 Federal Constituency and 40 State Constituency. The statement said that the states affected by the re-run elections are grouped into six. They are Gombe state, 27th January 2016; Adamawa, 13th February 2016; Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba and Imo, 20th February 2016; Abia, Anambra and Bayelsa, 5th March 2016; Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers, 12th March and River 19th March 2016. In a Public Notice issued and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, INEC said that consequent upon the judgments of the Court, the Commission will conduct the elections in 69 of the said Constituencies with the same Political Parties and their respective candidates who participated in the annulled elections The Commission further gave a list of the eleven other Constituencies, the Political Parties and Candidates who where entitled to participate. Meanwhile, INEC’s Directorate of Stores has called for a digitization of INEC’s Store processes to support the Commission in decision making to leverage on the benefits of technology. The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day Induction and Up-dates Workshop of the Stores Directorate, held at the Commission’s headquarters last week. The participants who were drawn from the Commission’s stores nationwide, agreed that equipping the Central, Electoral, and Zonal stores with the appropriate working materials would further enhance the efficiency of the stores and impact on the electoral process. In his address, the Director of Stores, Saidu Dogonyaro, appreciated the new Commission under the leadership of Professor Yakubu Mahmood for the support in putting together such a timely event, which served as a refresher course for stores officers, saying “it will go a long way in enhancing and re-energizing officers of the Stores Directorate”. The Acting Director of Audit, Tony Abarowei, advised the participants to avoid wastages and ensure proper documentation of all Stores processes. Director of Planning and Monitoring, Okey Ndeche, urged participants to imbibe ethical principles in carrying out their responsibilities. Said he: “in every growing organization, the action or in-action of one affects all.” He advocated for the development of code of ethics for store keepers, as he believed that it would ensure ethical conduct among store keepers. At the end of the interactive and educative workshop, the participants issued a ten point communiqué: 1. The workshop praised and appreciated the Honorable Chairman of the Commission (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) who graciously approved and released the funds for the workshop; 2. The five (5) Stores curriculum papers addressed Stores Administration, stating and expounding on all regulations books and documents of stores book-keeping; 3. The extra-curricular paper on Stress Management and Health tips was quite informative. Thoroughly explaining the causes, symptoms and management of stress, very useful for the staff and their family; 4. The workshop lamented the present posting and deployments of staff to the Zonal Stores, in which some staff are on loan from INEC state offices. It is recommended that posting to Zonal Stores be regularized; 5. A call for the computerization of INEC’s Stores’ processes to support the Commission in decision making to leverage the benefits of technology; 6. Equipping the Central Stores, Electoral, and Zonal Stores with the appropriate working materials such e.g. pallets, ladders, trolleys, and Shelves. Also, furnishing of the Zonal Stores was done last in 2009 and need replenishment; 7. Review of locations of some Zonal Stores. The workshop noted that some Zonal Stores locations are not cost effective; 8. Management and disposal of obsolete materials. All the Stores complained of congestion of their stores with obsolete materials and called for urgent boarding by BOSTEAC to create storage space for new stocks; 9. Caution in the customization and specification of some election forms and materials restrict their use to just the Election year and thereby resulting in wastages; 10. The workshop called for guided oversight over all the states INEC’s Stores by the Stores Directorate. This will ensure proper coordination and uniform documentation of all INEC’s stores processes. [myad]
Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong has revealed how the sum of N2.7 Billion declared missing by the previous administration in the state was recovered through the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA).
Governor Lalong who spoke today at the All Progressives Congress (APC) media roundtable in Abuja, said that the money was traced to some accounts in the state.
He said that the recovery had enabled him to pay workers in the state, who had been on strike for months, adding.
“Recently, we recovered about N2.7 billion in the state, money that was regarded as lost. We traced and recovered the money hich was meant for teachers. “Teachers, civil servants, the judiciary had gone on several months of strike; some nine, some 11 but now, since I came on board, we did our best. We now have arrears of salaries of only two months. “For teachers, we paid all; they are back to work. The judiciary is also back to work. So, for the plateau, we are moving on well. In the area of corruption, we are putting pressure on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hasten their investigations so that they can begin prosecution and we can also gain recovery of looted funds.’’
Governor Lalong said that several other cases had also been sent to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), “which will yield results soon.” He said that like the Federal Government, there was pressure to stop prosecution of some cases, while some people with concrete evidence refused to come out to testify. He, however, said that such antics did not and would not deter the government from pushing for the recovery of stolen funds in the state. The governor said that he was unsure why other governors were finding it difficult to implement the TSA, saying that the merits of the system outweighed its demerits. “I am not an accountant but immediately I became aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of TSA, I gave the instruction that it should be implemented. “I organised a committee immediately and today, TSA is being implemented. I don’t know why some governors are finding it difficult to implement TSA in their states but out of the TSA implementation in our state, we have gained some dividends. “We are now tracing some accounts that were not known to us before and we are seeing some excesses in those accounts, especially in some of the ministries. So, I will advise other states that have not yet implemented TSA to do so.” Governor Lalong assured that in spite of the reduction in monthly allocation to the state, there would be no downsizing of workers in the state. It will be very difficult to downsize on the plateau; I don’t intend to and I will not. All I want to do is to maintain what I have and also improve on it. That’s why our concentration is on improving on the revenue so that we can, if possible, employ additional workforce. Downsizing in this present administration is going to be very difficult; the president has advised state governments and even corporate organizations not to downsize.” The governor said that although he was yet to pay all outstanding salaries, he would do so as soon as the Federal Government paid the bailout he applied for in full. “Before the issue of bailout, we had already started paying workers in the state. When the issue of bailout came, we applied for N10 billion which was supposed to be for the arrears of salaries for about eight to nine months and so far, we have only received N5 billion. “Plateau was supposed to get N10 billion for salaries and for infrastructure but all we have got so far from the Central Bank of Nigeria is N5 billion. Even with that, we have been able to clear most of the arrears of salaries; we only have an outstanding of two months salaries not paid in our state. “We have paid all the outstanding salaries for all our local governments. If I am able to get my balance of N5 billion, within a week, all the remaining salaries would have been cleared.” [myad]
Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe has threatened to open another can of worms that may be worse that the Dasukigate if he is forced to reveal what transpired in that administration.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Adegbe on Wednesday in Lagos where he went through rigorous interrogation before he was flown to Abuja yesterday.
It was learnt that interrogation proceedings of the former ADC by the EFCC officials could open up a new can of worms, which “could surpass what is now known as Dasukigate.”
The EFCC is hopeful the former ADC may soon give details of all he knows with regards to financial transactions and the dramatic personae involved in the last administration.
Preliminary findings, including recovered documents, were said to have suggested a large-scale of questionable expenditure with funds sourced from and outside the arms purchase deals.
Another source said: “most of the funds were reportedly diverted soon after the election was postponed from the originally scheduled date of February 14, 2015 to March 28, 2015.”
Among the active participants in the alleged loot was a top official of an agency set up to discourage militancy in the South-South, who is currently outside the country.
At the centre of the interrogation of the former ADC, who has been moved to Abujawas the “mind-boggling spending” during the two weeks’ extension of the general election, “which runs into several trillions of naira, when converted from foreign currency.”
Sources disclosed further that many top Nigerians, “including some very close persons” to the former president, may be called to explain and defend their roles in the handling of the funds, a chunk of which was sourced from the agency.
The ADC who was arrested in Lagos a few days ago, was alleged to be attending a senior officers course when he was picked up for interrogation.
Before him, many serving and retired military officers had been quized in connection with the arms purchase deal during the Jonathan administration.
Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh (retd) and the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Amosu (retd) and other top politicians have been under EFCC investigation. [myad]
No fewer than 275 Nigerians detained by the Nigerian Army on the suspicious that they were members of Boko Haram have been released after they were cleared. Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Hassan Umaru, handed over the detainees to Governor Kashim Shettima at a ceremony in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Umaru said the detainees included 271 Nigerians and two nationals each of the republics of Cameroon and Niger. “Today, we are releasing 275 persons who have been in detention over suspicion of being involved in terrorism. Our crack team of joint investigators has screened and cleared the persons that are in the process of being released here today.” Major Umaru said the detainees included 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged and 50 children of cleared females. “The persons being released comprise 142 males 49 females, 22 under aged, 50 children of cleared females, two Nigeriens and two Cameroonians.”
The theatre commander said that they were being released in line with the principles of justice and fair play, adding: “in line with the principles of justice, equity and fairness, we deem it fit to release them to their families.” Major Umaru expressed sadness over their detention and urged them to consider it as their contribution to efforts to return peace in the country. “Their stay in detention had not been palatable due to restrictions imposed on them and loss of freedom. However, I see it as their sacrifice and contribution toward the return of peace in our country.” Major Umaru said that the Army had transferred eight other suspects to the police for further investigations, even as he assured Nigerians that no individual will be unjustly or unduly incarcerated. “We remain committed to the protection of fundamental human rights of every citizen of Nigeria and foreigners alike.” Receiving the detainees, Shettima commended the military for a job well done, saying: “today bears a sense of professionalism, justice, equity and fairness of the Nigerian Armed Forces. “The 275 suspects were picked from several locations at different times and were adjudged to be clean after through investigations. This action bears testimony to the fact that we are running a very professional force, contrary to insinuations from several quarters speculating arbitrary killings, detention and dehumanisation of suspects. “This is about the third or the fourth time we are receiving detainees to be reunited with their families. The Nigerian Army deserves special commendation for all the sacrifices it has been making for us to have peace in this part of the world. “We want to urge the detainees to be worthy ambassadors to go back home and be the catalysts for promoting peace and development in our society. “As a responsible government, we are going to give tokens to each of the detainees. Those that can be trained in vocational skills and other professions will be trained in specific professions. “For those of school age, we will insist with the parents that they must have access to education. “Education is a right and not a privilege and it is compulsory in this part of the world.” [myad]
The memory of a widely transmitted gory video of a gang of iniquitous cadets of the Kaduna-based Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) literally tearing a young man apart will not fade away as long as Nigeria exists. Indeed, in the narrative of recurrent, systematic brutalization of Nigerians by men and women who wear the varying assorted uniforms and emblems of state coercion, the assault on 25-year-oldcitizen Sunday Amari at Jabi Lake Park in Abuja on December 31, 2014 will rank as one of the most despicable in its scale of barbarity. Even for the unemotional, this is a classic horror scene bound to induce goose pimples.
Yet, it is not hard to explain why this level of descent to bestial maltreatment of our fellow citizens by these uniformed felons would continue to offend our sensibilities week in week out, without as much as a whimper from those who lay claim to being the custodians of the security and welfare of the people, the ruling party that is waving the banner of change, the civil society, and worse, from bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which ought to be on the front line of outrage as a result of such persistent physical and psychological torture of the people.
It is simply because Nigeria – in spite of loud sentiments to the contrary – remains an unformed entity, a stone-age jungle of perversity with very weak antennae of sympathetic response, and where rules of behaviour are defined only by the crude philosophy of might is right. Anyone with connections to the misruling elite will commit any crime and get away with it.
It is this indulgent culture of arbitrariness that gave birth to the tyranny of the military and other similarly kitted personnel, so much so that anyone wrapped under these uniforms sees himself/herself as superior to others who are engaged in civilian jobs. And that is the biggest problem with these uniformed persons, especially the Armed Forces, and particularly the Army. They believe that apart from them, Nigeria has nothing else. Or, something like without them, there can never be a Nigeria.
Clearly, this type of silly arrogance is what motivated nine NDA cadets (seven males and two females) to pounce on an innocent citizen, a parks and recreation officer going about his legitimate duties at the Park. The encounter was like one of those scenes from the NatGeo channels where a pride of lions suddenly cornered a zebra and began tearing it left, right and centre. Sunday was mercilessly beaten only for the reason of being an onlooker in an earlier assault which the cadets had perpetrated on another citizen.
A female cadet convinced that Sunday would walk from the scene only to tell people what he had witnessed, beckoned him and demobilized him instantly with a staccato of slaps. As Sunday reeled on the ground clutching his head protectively, other cadets joined in the shameless frenzy of savagery, repeatedly kicking and slapping and horsewhipping. By the time they were done, the poor fellow was already soaked in his own blood. Nothing advertises man’s inhumanity to a fellow citizen other than this nauseating picture of cruelty.
To further rub salt on Sunday’s wound and the society’s injury, the NDA reacted by telling a most unconscionable lie. It said the incident happened at some location in Lagos when the cadets were on break, and that it was investigating. Meanwhile, truth is that NDA is investigating nada. NDA knows that the Nigerian public is a docile, mumu public. It knows that nothing will happen even if it decided not to cough out a word. Surely, it only decided to put out a response as way of, as they say, fulfilling all righteousness.
Indication that the institution is not remorseful in any sense, and therefore not investigating anything concerning the incident is its failure to respond to an email from Saharareporters requesting identities of these twisted cadets, as well as come on Channels TV following Sunday’s appearance, not just to empathise with the victim but also to apologise to him and the nation while promising that such ugly misconduct from its cadets would be met with stiff punishment now and in the future.
Elsewhere, even in less endowed countries, what happened to Sunday would have ignited protests across state capitals and spurred a serious review of the role of the civil-military relations directorate of the entire Armed Forces. But it’s not happening here – an emphatic sign that our society is terribly sick.In any case, what is the job of the civil-military relations department of the Army? How does it respond in the face unwarranted, frequent brutal assaults of innocent citizens by its soldiers and officers? Does it ever teach its officers and men the meaning of citizenship?
I think the answer is No. My take is that the department is a cosmetic office set up to give the impression that the military is working hard to ensure a smooth relationship between it and non-combatant citizens. And if it’s truly working, why does its impact on the society tend to be more negative than positive?
It is obvious that these brazen brutalities continue to happen because, clearly, there are no sanctions. Officers and men of the military sustained by the tax paid by the toiling masses will practically murder harmless citizens every so often, and then nothing happens. At a social gathering a couple of days ago, some army officers were overheard telling a group of listeners that nothing would ever happen to the cadets who tortured Sunday. They are very right. After all, there are many Sundays that have suffered all kinds of unimaginable abuse under the jackboots of the military without getting the benefit of a mention in the media.
So, no one should be deceived. All that talk about our military being a disciplined institution is balderdash because from all indication discipline is not demonstrated in their everyday conduct. What you get, in the end, is a military bursting at the seams with impunity and heavily laden at the top with corruption. This unwholesome, putrid mix is the definite make-up of Nigeria’s military.
However, the NDA will do well to heed this advice: the cadets who pummelled Sunday that fateful evening should be fished out and sent packing. It is in the best interest of this country that those twisted souls are not allowed to pursue a career in the military.
Godwin Onyeacholem is a journalist; he can be reached on gonyeacholem @gmail.com. [myad]
A fashion student known as the ‘Beauty of Beverley,’ Miss Nina Paunova was said to have committed suicide by cutting her wrist then driving her car through a hedge into a nearby field where she hanged herself after she got a break up text message from her boyfriend.
Nina, who is the daughter of a respected professor at the University of Hull was discovered dead close to her home on the 8th of September, 2015. Further investigations into her death revealed that she was in a rocky relationship with her boyfriend, Sam Scott, and had previously threatened to throw herself off a balcony.
Sam Scott dumped her by text when he was forwarded Nina’s messages claiming she would ditch him after he spent £2,000 on gifts for her 21st birthday.
Mr. Scott, who is from a wealthy family , told an investigator that he had already spent £10,000 on jewellery and clothing, £4,500 on trips to London and Paris and at least £2,000 on holidays to Croatia and Menorca. But he ended the relationship when he was sent Nina’s texts to her friend Elizabeth Gough, via Miss Gough’s boyfriend.
“I told you what my plan is. Straight after my 21st and after he has spent £1,000 to £2,000 I’m gone. ‘After all the s*** I’ve put up with. I will literally take my presents and the week after my 21st end it and delete him.” The messages said.
In the hours before her death, Miss Paunova, drove to her boyfriend’s house to confront him but was refused entry. She then drove her car through a hedge at more than 60mph into a nearby field and hanged herself after cutting her wrists. Her parents warned her not to get back together with her boyfriend after a two month break but they had rekindled their relationship and were supposed to go on vacation together. Nina had sent a text to her mother before she killed herself:
“I guess I should have listened sooner.” the text read.
Miss Paunova, who was moved to the UK from Bulgaria at the age of five, studied art and design at Bishop Burton College where she received a triple distinction in her final exams. She had also won a scholarship for university and was due to start her final year of a fashion and marketing degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her heartbroken family described her as stunning, bright and hard-working.
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Ahead of Valentine Day tomorrow, February 14, some Civil Society Groups and health related None Governmental Organizations (NGO) have distributed condoms free to many residents that would be out to seek for fun.
NDA Cadets, The Military And Citizen Sunday, By Godwin Onyeacholem
Yet, it is not hard to explain why this level of descent to bestial maltreatment of our fellow citizens by these uniformed felons would continue to offend our sensibilities week in week out, without as much as a whimper from those who lay claim to being the custodians of the security and welfare of the people, the ruling party that is waving the banner of change, the civil society, and worse, from bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which ought to be on the front line of outrage as a result of such persistent physical and psychological torture of the people.
It is simply because Nigeria – in spite of loud sentiments to the contrary – remains an unformed entity, a stone-age jungle of perversity with very weak antennae of sympathetic response, and where rules of behaviour are defined only by the crude philosophy of might is right. Anyone with connections to the misruling elite will commit any crime and get away with it.
It is this indulgent culture of arbitrariness that gave birth to the tyranny of the military and other similarly kitted personnel, so much so that anyone wrapped under these uniforms sees himself/herself as superior to others who are engaged in civilian jobs. And that is the biggest problem with these uniformed persons, especially the Armed Forces, and particularly the Army. They believe that apart from them, Nigeria has nothing else. Or, something like without them, there can never be a Nigeria.
Clearly, this type of silly arrogance is what motivated nine NDA cadets (seven males and two females) to pounce on an innocent citizen, a parks and recreation officer going about his legitimate duties at the Park. The encounter was like one of those scenes from the NatGeo channels where a pride of lions suddenly cornered a zebra and began tearing it left, right and centre. Sunday was mercilessly beaten only for the reason of being an onlooker in an earlier assault which the cadets had perpetrated on another citizen.
A female cadet convinced that Sunday would walk from the scene only to tell people what he had witnessed, beckoned him and demobilized him instantly with a staccato of slaps. As Sunday reeled on the ground clutching his head protectively, other cadets joined in the shameless frenzy of savagery, repeatedly kicking and slapping and horsewhipping. By the time they were done, the poor fellow was already soaked in his own blood. Nothing advertises man’s inhumanity to a fellow citizen other than this nauseating picture of cruelty.
To further rub salt on Sunday’s wound and the society’s injury, the NDA reacted by telling a most unconscionable lie. It said the incident happened at some location in Lagos when the cadets were on break, and that it was investigating. Meanwhile, truth is that NDA is investigating nada. NDA knows that the Nigerian public is a docile, mumu public. It knows that nothing will happen even if it decided not to cough out a word. Surely, it only decided to put out a response as way of, as they say, fulfilling all righteousness.
Indication that the institution is not remorseful in any sense, and therefore not investigating anything concerning the incident is its failure to respond to an email from Saharareporters requesting identities of these twisted cadets, as well as come on Channels TV following Sunday’s appearance, not just to empathise with the victim but also to apologise to him and the nation while promising that such ugly misconduct from its cadets would be met with stiff punishment now and in the future.
Elsewhere, even in less endowed countries, what happened to Sunday would have ignited protests across state capitals and spurred a serious review of the role of the civil-military relations directorate of the entire Armed Forces. But it’s not happening here – an emphatic sign that our society is terribly sick.In any case, what is the job of the civil-military relations department of the Army? How does it respond in the face unwarranted, frequent brutal assaults of innocent citizens by its soldiers and officers? Does it ever teach its officers and men the meaning of citizenship?
I think the answer is No. My take is that the department is a cosmetic office set up to give the impression that the military is working hard to ensure a smooth relationship between it and non-combatant citizens. And if it’s truly working, why does its impact on the society tend to be more negative than positive?
It is obvious that these brazen brutalities continue to happen because, clearly, there are no sanctions. Officers and men of the military sustained by the tax paid by the toiling masses will practically murder harmless citizens every so often, and then nothing happens. At a social gathering a couple of days ago, some army officers were overheard telling a group of listeners that nothing would ever happen to the cadets who tortured Sunday. They are very right. After all, there are many Sundays that have suffered all kinds of unimaginable abuse under the jackboots of the military without getting the benefit of a mention in the media.
So, no one should be deceived. All that talk about our military being a disciplined institution is balderdash because from all indication discipline is not demonstrated in their everyday conduct. What you get, in the end, is a military bursting at the seams with impunity and heavily laden at the top with corruption. This unwholesome, putrid mix is the definite make-up of Nigeria’s military.
However, the NDA will do well to heed this advice: the cadets who pummelled Sunday that fateful evening should be fished out and sent packing. It is in the best interest of this country that those twisted souls are not allowed to pursue a career in the military.
Godwin Onyeacholem is a journalist; he can be reached on gonyeacholem @gmail.com. [myad]