September 24, (THEWILL) – The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has condemned the inhumane treatment of a female corps member by a military Officer in Calabar, Cross River State.
THEWILL had reported a military Officer serving in the 13th Brigade Command of the Nigeria Army in Calabar, Lt. Chika Viola Anele, was caught on camera, allegedly dehumanizing a female youth Corp member, Miss Ezeiruaku Ifenyinwa Fidelia.
Reacting to the incident on Friday, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, said it has received full briefing on the incident from the Director-general of the NYSC and directed the Army and Paramilitary agencies to stop any form of dehumanising acts against corps members across the country by their personnel.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has received full briefing from the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme about the unfortunate incident, spread in a viral video, that happened on July 28,2021 in Cross River State where a female youth Corper was dehumanized by a female military personnel.
“The NYSC and the Army authorities have since commenced investigations into the incident and the officer involved as evidenced by the statement released by the Army authorities.
“The statement by the Nigerian Army DHQ describing the dehumanizing of the Corps member as highly unprofessional and unacceptable is welcomed.
“The Ministry also condemns in very strong terms this incident and believes, and has been assured, that the Army with its discipline and commitment to professional ethics will make sure justice is served.
“The Ministry wants to further urge that all Army and ParaMilitary personnel be re-oriented and be asked to stop any such dehumanizing acts against Corps members across the country.
“The Youth and Sports Development Minister has further directed that henceforth close monitoring of all camps be intensified to avoid any repeat of such occurrences”, the statement said.
THEWILL recalls that the Nigerian Army had in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said investigation has been launched into the incident and that the officer has been identified and sanctioned in the interim and would be made to undergo regimental orders (trial) in line with the extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.
The statement had 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 undoubtedly remained the pride of the nation, a symbol of national unity that has consistently been 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 have caused the NA monumental embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the NA and will not be condoned in its entirety.
“For the record, 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 by its personnel.
“The NA also reassures that the rights of the citizenry are 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.”
