Army demotes and imprisons soldiers who assaulted physically challenged man in Onitsha

Samuel and Usman dragging and flogging Uraku on the street after throwing away his wheelchair

The Nigerian Army says it has demoted two soldiers, Cpl. Bature Samuel and Cpl. Abdulazeez Usman of 82 Provost Company in Onitsha, Anambra, to Private Soldiers for human rights abuse.

Samuel and Usman were the soldiers who dragged and flogged a physically challenged man, Chijioke Uraku on the street in Onitsha on February 7 2017 for allegedly wearing a military camouflage.

The Nigerian Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday, saying that they have been sentenced to 21 days imprisonment with hard labour.

Usman said they were arrested, summarily tried on two-count charge and found guilty.

“Consequently, both have been sentenced to reduction in rank from Corporal to Private Soldiers and 21 days imprisonment with Hard Labour, respectively.

It includes forfeiture of 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media.

We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times.

Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated,” he said.