Soldiers from the Nigerian Army reportedly subjected ASP Edet Inyang, a serving police officer, to torture and brutality for an alleged instance of ‘wrong parking.’
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has lodged a petition with Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, concerning the soldiers’ assault on Edet. According to Effiong’s statement on his X handle on Thursday, the incident occurred on December 9, 2023, when Edet parked his vehicle near the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba to make some purchases.
Effiong condemned the soldiers’ actions as a serious infringement of fundamental rights, highlighting that ASP Edet is still undergoing treatment, with his left ear impaired due to the assault.
The human rights lawyer revealed that he has written to the Chief of Army Staff, urging appropriate punishment for the implicated soldiers and seeking fair compensation for the police officer.
Narrating how the incident happened, Effiong said, “The attack happened on the 9th of December 2023. He parked his vehicle at a store close to the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade in Asaba to purchase some items.
“Upon packing, he heard the voice of a man on mufti whom he would later identify as one Lance Corporal Onyibuchi of the Intelligence Department attached to the 63 Brigade, Asaba, talking from a far distance and speaking in tones which he could not comprehend.”
He said while the ranting was going on, a uniformed soldier approached the police officer and requested him to re-park his vehicle, which he made attempts to comply with the instruction.
He continued, “While he was trying to re-park, the said Lance Corporal approached him and dragged him backwards and asked him why he refused to obey his instructions.
“Edet tried to explain that he did not hear him properly because he was inaudible given the distance between them.
“The next thing was for the said Lance Corporal to start pounding on and brutalizing ASP Edet along with not less than ten other soldiers. They brutalized him till he lost consciousness and they had to take him to the military hospital for medical care.”
While demanding that the offending soldiers be duly punished and adequate compensation paid to the victim, Effiong
lamented that Nigerians cannot continue to live in a nation where their rights are abused brazenly without consequences.
