Army cracks down on errant soldiers

The Nigerian Army has urged members of the public to alert the authorities anytime they see a soldier misbehaving in public.

This is coming on the heels of the dismissal of Lance Corporal Ayodeji Sunday, formerly attached to the Nigerian Army Workshop, Ikeja, for flouting the state traffic laws last week Thursday.

Ayodeji was involved in a fracas with officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Task Force on the Environment when he was stopped by the officers for plying the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Lane reserved for state owned buses.

The soldier had resisted attempts to impound his car and engaged the traffic of....

Ayodeji was consequently court marshalled and dismissed from the Nigerian Army after he was found guilty of misdemeanour. Army authorities also handed him over to the Task Force on the Environment for prosecution.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Nigeria Army, said the army will not tolerate any indiscipline from his officers as the dismissal of the erring officer will serve as a deterrent to others who would want to take the laws into their hands.

“The Nigerian Army is a human organisation and we have human beings as soldiers," he said. "As human beings, we have our share of black eggs. It is not a perfect organisation, and no other organisation is perfect either. We would pursue better civil/military relations to its logical end and as it is required by the books.

While we at the hierarchy mean good for the system, there are some too at the lower cadre who do not portend good for the system. The soldier who was involved in the BRT offence the other day has been dismissed from service and he would eventually be handed over to the Lagos State task force for prosecution.”

Minimah advised officers to abide by all civil laws as the army uniform should not be used for reckless behaviour by officers. “That is a far-reaching warning for others who may want to take the law into their hands and breach the laws of the state, we will not condone that," he said. "The Nigerian Army is a professional organisation. Whoever disobeys the laws of Lagos State would be dealt with appropriately irrespective of who you are or where you belong. The Nigeria Army is subordinate to the constitution of Nigeria and the state laws.”

The general also urged members of the public to call the Nigerian Army if they see any soldier misbehaving in public. He gave the phone numbers to contact as:

The Commander 9th Brigade Cantonment, Ikeja – 08023101918

The Commander 81 Division Intelligence Group – 08065004611

The Commander 81 Division Provost Group – 08033112845

Operation Mesa lines – 08036861232, 08028066921, 08088821270, 08034335582, 07035980644, 08036805571, 070369669291, 07033182019, 08036622830, 08061117947, 08065666611, 07036026437 and 08028341852.

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Comment by Moses K Tawose on June 29, 2011 at 5:35pm: What a gaint step step they're taken. Line has to be drawn and the law is the law nobody is above or below it.This would put others in check how to behave when they're in the public because they knows what the consequence would be if they did such or same act at the army barracks or where they were assigned.

Comment by peter jegede on June 29, 2011 at 11:38am: the army wants to be civilian friends. thats good idea but this might take some time. well what do you guys think?

Comment by Henry Adedayo Adewuyi on June 29, 2011 at 11:07am: I want to use dis opportunity to urge audience, pls and pls no one should be decieved by all the scenero used 've seen so far, i think every one should be careful of what he/she was sent by the authority. Bcos the army will still remain army, any misconduct by anyone, army wil tolerate dat, so be warned.

Comment by Kenny A on June 29, 2011 at 10:59am: Its not only the junior ones that act like animals, there are many other officers who act above the law and should be dealt with. Such an example is one Lt. Col. Nurseman who until around last year was the Legal Officer of the Nigerian Army, Odogiyan barracks, Ojoo - Ibadan. I'm not sure if Col. Nurseman is presently still at this barracks or if he's still the Legal Officer. About this time last year, Col. Nurseman along with his entourage hit my car at Mokola, Ibadan and kidnapped me to their barracks at Ojoo at gun-point threatning to kill me. I was only let off the hook at around 12 - Midnight after i had parted with about N8,000 to Col. Nurseman and his cohorts. My Phone is: 08060443557 & i'm more willing to come forward and defend this.

Comment by Kenny A on June 29, 2011 at 10:56am: Its not only the junior ones that act like animals, there are many other officers who act above the law and should be dealt with. Such an example is one Lt. Col. Nurseman who until around last year was the Legal Officer of the Nigerian Army, Odogiyan barracks, Ojoo - Ibadan. I'm not sure if Col. Nurseman is presently still at this barracks or if he's still the Legal Officer. About this time last year, Col. Nurseman along with his entourage hit my car at Mokola, Ibadan and kidnapped me to their barracks at Ojoo in gun-point threatning to kill me. I was only let off the hook at around 12 - Midnight after i had parted with about N8,000 to Col. Nurseman and his cohorts. My Phone is: 08060443557 & i'm more willing to come forward and defend this.

Comment by Kenny A on June 29, 2011 at 10:52am: Its not only the junior ones that act like animals, there are many other officers who act above the law and should be dealt with. Such an example is on Lt. Col. Nurseman who until around last year was the Legal Officer of the Nigerian Army, Odogiyan barracks, Ojoo - Ibadan. I'm not sure if Col. Nurseman is presently still at this barracks or if he's still the Legal Officer. About this time last year, Col. Nurseman along with his entourage hit my car at Mokola, Ibadan and kidnapped me to their barracks at Ojoo in gun-point threatning to kill me. I was only let off the hook at around 12 - Midnight after i had parted with about N8,000 to Col. Nurseman and his cohorts.