Updated: Army apologises over military officer assault on lady corper (with video)

Military police have detained a female army officer, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, who was found in a viral video dehumanising a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ezeiruaku Ifeyinwa Fidelia, in Calabar, Cross River State.

Agba Jalingo, a journalist and human rights activist, shared the video of the officer pouring an unknown white substance on the kneeling corps member before hitting her with a plate.

the Nigerian Army in its reaction on Thursday night said it had identified the officer involved and vowed to deal with the matter decisively, just as it apologised to the corps member and her family.

“A female army officer, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, assaulted a youth corps member, Ezeiruaku Ifeyinwa Fidelia, serving at the 13 Brigade headquarters in Calabar,” Jalingo had submitted.

“We understand that the leadership of 13 Brigade is working hard to put an end to the matter. Let us make the officer famous for all the wrong reasons.

Lieutenant Anele was seized by the military police and was being interrogated, according to the activist, who gave an update on Thursday afternoon.

“The Army Officer, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, who was recorded on camera dehumanizing and degrading a Youth Corper, Ezeiruaku Ifenyinwa Fidelia, in Calabar earlier, has now been detained by the MP and is being interrogated as a result of our report.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army in its statement signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, has tendered an apology to the corps member and her family.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Army (NA) has taken cognizance of a video clip currently making the rounds on the social media, where a female officer was seen dehumanizing a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Calabar, Cross River State.”

“This act is not only condemnable, but unprofessional and against established precepts of discipline in the NA. The NA has remained undoubtedly the pride of the nation, a symbol of national unity that has consistently being in the vanguard of respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry. It is against this premise that the NA condemns this unimaginable level of infraction by a personnel in its ranks.

“The NA therefore, condemns in strong terms, this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions has caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in anyway represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety.

“For the records, the ugly incident happened in 13 Brigade, Calabar. The Brigade Commander immediately instituted an investigation and the officer involved has been identified and sanctioned on the interim and would be made to undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act. The submission that the Brigade attempted covering up was therefore misleading, as the NA remains a professional force that has zero tolerance for indiscipline amongst its personnel.

“The NA wishes to reiterate and assure the general public that such infractions would not be tolerated from its personnel.

“The NA also reassures that the rights of the citizenry is sacrosanct and must be respected by all personnel of the NA, as any form of infraction will be severely dealt with.

“Therefore, the general public is enjoined to continue to report such infractions, as Human Rights Desks in all formations of the NA are emplaced to deal decisively with such erring personnel.

“The NA further wishes to tender unreserved apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment meted out to the corps member.”