Nigerian Army Says ‘Soldiers’ That Threatened To Rape Women In Viral Video Arrested

Nigerian Army on Friday, says two officers in a viral video using uncouth and uncivilised language purportedly threatening to molest women in Warri, Delta state have been arrested in Lagos.

BIGPEN reports that in a video that went viral earlier on Friday, the officers had threatened the people of Warri in Delta, particularly mothers, wives and daughters, in retaliation of the alleged murder of their colleague in the state.

However, this medium reports that there was no report of the killing of a soldier during the upheaval stemmed from the killing of one Joseph Pessu, by a soldier attached to Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), who were enforcing the lockdown in the state but reports say two naval officers who were caught in the melee were beaten to pulp.

The Army headquarters was yet to issue any statement condemning the act, neither has its comment on the purported attack on the officers when the video showing two officers threatening Warri people over an alleged killing of soldier started circulating online.

In a statement on Friday evening, the army authority said that the officers in the viral video were arrested at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment Lagos State today (Friday), 3 April 2020 and are being investigated.

In a series of tweet at its verified twitter handle, @HQNigerianArmy, the Army Headquarters, said “Soldiers in a viral video using uncouth and uncivilized language purportedly threatening to molest women in Warri Delta State were arrested at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment Lagos State today 3 April 2020 and further investigation is ongoing.

“The general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to reiterate that it would not tolerate any form of irresponsibility and indiscipline on the part of any of its personnel”, the tweet reads.

In the same vein, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta state, Friday also confirmed that the men in army uniform who threatened to molest women in Warri in a viral video, were arrested in Lagos and currently being investigated.

“We will always take all threats against the people of Delta State seriously. This is why, I am pleased to report that the men in uniform that threatened to molest women in Warri — in a viral video — have been apprehended in Lagos, and are being investigated by the Nigerian Army”, the governor wrote in his verified twitter handle.

Earlier, the Defence Headquarters, in a statement by Major General John Enenche, the Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, had denied the authenticity of viral videos showing military abuses making the rounds on social media.

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to some video clips trending in the media, Consequently, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to state that the videos were old clips of past incidents that took place in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The clips are being used by some mischievous elements to tarnish the image of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“Those videos are misleading, as they are not related to the present military engagement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria towards the lockdown on COVID-19. The Nigerian Armed Forces sees those clips as calculated attempts to tarnish its professional integrity by some mischief makers.

“Members of the public are hereby advised to disregard those videos. It is the handwork of false news propagators. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains undaunted and would not be distracted. Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to performing its constitutional roles towards ensuring the protection of our territorial integrity and the lives and property of the general public.”

BIGPEN had reported based on report that the army in the statement said the videos are old and are not reflective of current situations. Among the videos that were circulating on the social media were those of the two officers threatening Warri people and another showing corpses littering the streets.