A troubling video has emerged depicting Nigerian military personnel publicly torturing and brutalizing a citizen purportedly for wearing camouflage.
The video, obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, revealed two soldiers - one in full military gear with a military police badge and another in plain clothes - dragging and assaulting the young man with a belt and a log of wood.
Although the exact location and date of the incident are unknown of the time of this report, the video shows a crowd of onlookers watching helplessly as the soldiers tormented the victim, who was wearing a camouflage overall.
The soldiers' actions are a blatant display of abuse of power and violence against a civilian.
VIDEO: Lawless Nigerian Soldiers Caught In Video Brutalising Young Man In Public For Wearing Camouflage pic.twitter.com/hdiRtRsRyW
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 20, 2024
When SaharaReporters reached out to the Commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, Major General O.O. Oluyede, he promptly condemned the brutal act, emphasising that the Nigerian Army did not condone such barbaric behavior.
Although he said he had not seen the video prior to being contacted, he urged Nigerians and witnesses to come forward and provide details to the military authorities, so that appropriate action can be taken.
In a WhatsApp message, he responded, "I'm not aware of the incident. Please provide more information to help the system. This is not encouraged and is not part of our culture."