Daily Trust (Abuja)
Romoke W. Ahmad and Tosin Omoniyi
23 October 2009
Abuja — Residents of Abuja Tuesday complained of harassment and verbal abuses by soldiers posted at the Armed Forces Remembrance Arcade in Eagle Square and the traffic junction in Mogadishu Barracks, Asokoro.
They said when someone unknowingly passes by the arcade; such a person is made to undergo corporal punishment by the soldiers on duty.
"When people cross the expressway in front of Mogadishu Barracks, the soldiers make them kneel in the open by the roadside instead of warning them verbally," Emmanuel, a resident said.
A student, Taye Maidalaily, lamented that her ordeal in the hands of the soldiers manning the arcade was embarrassing.
"One of the soldiers barked, rained insults on me for daring to pass the demarcated area and all efforts to pacify him was abortive to the extent that he threatened me with his gun," Taye told our reporter.
A civil servant that works at the federal secretariat blamed members of the public for ignoring the 'no go area' sign board clearly displayed at the arcade's surroundings.
Reacting, Director of Army Public Relations, (DAPR), Brig- Gen. Chris Olukolade, when contacted promised to investigate the matter.
He however cautioned Nigerians to respect the signs mounted by the Army, adding that no soldier is permitted to harass defenceless citizens, not to talk of cocking guns to threaten them," he added.
The Army spokes person urged Nigerians to channel such complaints to the appropriate quarters and promised that adequate actions will be taken by the authority to call its personnel's to order.
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