The Depot Nigerian Army, Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered an investigation into allegations of misconduct involving some of its personnel following a complaint by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D.
The Army said the investigation was aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the incident and ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Depot Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Major Ibrahim, the Commandant of the Depot said the Nigerian Army remained committed to protecting all citizens and would not tolerate any act of harassment, intimidation or assault by its personnel.
“The Nigerian Army exists to protect all citizens, especially the youth, who are the future of the nation. Any conduct that falls short of that mandate is unacceptable.
“No student or law-abiding citizen should ever feel unsafe or be subjected to harassment, intimidation or assault by those entrusted with the security of lives and property,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the commandant has directed a full investigation into the allegations in line with military regulations and the values of the Nigerian Army.
“The commandant has ordered an investigation to ascertain the facts of the incident and bring perpetrators to justice,” the Army said.
It called on the Southwest Coordinator of NANS, Adeyemo Kayode, to provide all available evidence and witness statements to facilitate a comprehensive investigation.
“The NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, is kindly requested to make available all evidence and witness statements to enable a thorough investigation into the incident,” the statement added.
The Army maintained that the alleged actions did not reflect the standards of discipline and character expected of personnel trained at the Depot.
“The alleged actions of the personnel do not reflect the training and character development of recruits at the Depot. We therefore give our firm assurance that any personnel found guilty will face the full weight of military law,” the statement said.
The commandant also expressed readiness to meet with the leadership of NANS to discuss the matter and agree on the way forward.
Recall that newly recruited personnel of the Nigerian Army on Monday assaulted some UNIOSUN students, triggering a protest that led to the barricading of the popular Obokun Road.
The students, accompanied by the Southwest Coordinator of the NANS, Zone D, Josiah Adeyemo, carried placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Students are not safe’, ‘Our girls are not animals’, ‘We demand justice’, among others.
The protesters marched from their hostels to the Shasha Market area before blocking the highway, disrupting vehicular movement in protest against the alleged assault by the soldiers.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Clement Adebooye, later joined the protest after addressing the affected students at their hostels.
Military personnel allegedly attached to the Army Depot in Osogbo on Monday night invaded off-campus hostels housing students of the University of Osun (UNIOSUN), with the university accusing the operatives of assaulting students and confiscating their belongings.
The university’s spokesperson, Ademola Adesoji, alleged that more than 20 students were directly affected during the operation, claiming the soldiers assaulted both male and female students.
“Over 20 have already been identified as the victims. We counted the affected students. The soldiers came from Osogbo Army Depot. They assaulted the students,” Adesoji said.
He further alleged that some female students were stripped and subjected to indecent touching by the soldiers.
“Some female students said they were stripped by the soldiers. They also said they were touched indecently. Some male students were also assaulted,” he added.
According to Adesoji, two students sustained injuries serious enough to require hospital treatment, although one of them had been discharged as of yesterday morning.
He also alleged that the soldiers seized more than 60 electronic devices, including mobile phones, from the students during the raid.
“Over 60 gadgets, including phones, were seized from the students. Five of the perpetrators were identified and brought to the campus this morning,” he said.
Adesoji, however, noted that the identified soldiers were later returned to the military base after being presented on campus.
“But they were later returned to the military base. The army division said they would be dismissed.
“The VC has taken the matter up with the army authority. We can’t confirm the alleged rape yet,” he said.
