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The Nigerian Army has began the investigation into the audio-visual footage trending on the social media, in which certain persons clad in military camouflage were seen molesting civilians in order to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.
Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu in a press statement on Sunday described the online video as provocative and unacceptable noting that the Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for any act inimical to the rights and wellbeing of the citizenry.
Brig Gen Nwachukwu stressed that the condemnable incident which was said to have taken place at 2Season Hotel and Resorts, Kaduna is an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity which the Nigerian Army represents.
"Nigerian Army is a disciplined and regimented force committed to the supremacy of the constitution, defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation as well as aid to civil authorities.
"Outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage, who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be Nigerian Army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Acts", he said.
The army Spokesperson while thanking members of the public for their continued support, urged all law abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter and to report any untoward conduct by troops to Nigerian Army Human Rights Desks at the Headquarters Nigerian Army or at the Divisions Headquarters.
The video shows the moment a team of soldiers were pounding on the employees of the cleaning company.
It was gathered that the soldiers were allegedly invited by a Hotel, 2 Seasons Resort and Conference Center, after the cleaners, said to be students, insisted on being paid in full for cleaning the hotel.
The soldiers, who were about five in number, ordered the cleaners to lie down in a gutter where they were captured flogging the men one after the other.
The soldiers also seized the cleaners’ phones and threatened them with more violence.
According to a staff of the cleaning company, “Currently we have a staff with a broken head, one almost blinded and also another staff fainted.”