BEVERLY HILLS, March 16, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Army says it has detained six soldiers for allegedly brutalising a woman in the Ikorodu axis of Lagos State.
Images of the assaulted woman showing severe wounds on her back were published on dozens of news websites Wednesday.
The Army in a statement said the soldiers in detention belong to the 174 Battalion.
The statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, O.M. Daudu, said: “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.
The alleged incident is highly regrettable, even as the Division under the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for inhuman 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. We thank the media for 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.”
