The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered a probe into the conditions of Nigerian Army’s detention facilities nationwide and how some soldiers kept in guard rooms for various offences broke out the facility located at the 8 Division Garrison, Sokoto, which allegedly resulted to a shooting incident that claimed the life of a soldier.
The COAS has also warned that mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service orders were grievous misconducts, adding that “this incident epitomises such.”
Though the number of soldiers involved in the mutiny was not disclosed by the military authorities, THISDAY gathered from military sources that the incident, which occurred on Thursday, led to the detention of about 100 soldiers, with 10 detained in each cell.
This is coming as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the happiness of his men remains paramount to him in discharging his responsibilities as defence chief.
In his reaction to the development, Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the Nigerian Army would not hesitate to appropriately sanction the soldiers involved in what he described as “unruly behaviour” in its Sokoto detention facility.
He said the Nigerian Army took note of a viral report and audiovisual recording circulating on social media produced by some of its personnel held in custody at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility.
“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff, to say the least, and in line with his leadership style, the COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.
“While the service regrets and has learned some lessons from the incident, it will however not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance.
“Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such”, he said.
Nwachukwu affirmed that the personnel would be sanctioned for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities.
“As such, as the Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all Nigerian Army detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities and if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively”, he said.
“While the service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body.
“As such, the army remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed.
“This commitment underscores the Nigerian Army’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.
“The Nigerian Army appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as a pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies”, he said.
I Can’t Function If My Men are Not Happy, Says Musa
Meanwhile, the CDS, General Musa, has said the happiness of his men remains paramount to him in discharging his responsibilities as defence chief.
Musa expressed this view while addressing journalists yesterday during the novelty volleyball match in honour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan, who are on a private visit to Nigeria at the invitation of the CDS.
He said he desired to celebrate the wounded soldiers and veterans which prompted the invitation of the royal prince to come to Nigeria and celebrate with the injured veterans.
According to him, it is a great privilege and honour and it shows that people all over the world understand what it is to sacrifice for one’s nation.
“These guys have given everything they have just to make sure that Nigeria remains one.
“These individuals have families and people that depend on them but we will never allow the situation they are in to keep them out.
“That is why, for me particularly, it is very important for the morale of my men.
“For me, I cannot function if my men are not happy and I will do whatever it takes for me to make sure that they are happy.
“That is why we are acknowledging what they have done and we are commending them and we appreciate the sacrifices they are making,” he said.
The defence chief said the Nigerian armed forces were committed to investing in the Invictus game which commenced in 2014, adding he was wondering why Nigeria delayed taking part in the game.
He promised that the Nigerian team would go all the way to build up the capacity of the personnel to be able to continue to win laurels for Nigeria.
Prince Harry interacted with members of his Invictus Foundation and urged them to keep up the good work.
He also cheered up the injured soldiers and veterans who participated in the novelty game.
The visitors had on arrival on Friday had a closed-door meeting with the CDS after a visit to a school in Wuse, Abuja.
They later proceeded to 44 Army Reference Hospital Kaduna where they interacted with wounded soldiers who are currently receiving treatment.
