From JUDEX OKORO, Calabar
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A female school teacher, Mrs. Etta- Bassey Ephraim, was made to pass through the valley of death as she was detained in a military cell for eight hours with 10 men. Some of the men, she said, displayed signs of lunacy and violence, sending shivers down her spine.
Narrating her ordeals to Daily Sun, Mrs. Ephraim, a History at Army Day Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State, stated that she was so terribly frightened and depressed that the male inmates could rape her at any slightest opportunity.
She said, “ I was shocked to the bone marrow when I was put in the same cell with these hefty men; I asked myself what offence did I commit to warrant such torture, human debasement and treatment from the Commanding Officer whose duty it is to ensure my protection in the barracks. But thank God that after eight gory hours, my husband and my principal were able to effect my release from the gallows,” adding, the experience has worsened my health condition because it was the biggest nightmare I have ever had in my life.”
In a petition, entitled, “Petition against the Commanding Officer, 146, Battalion, Eburutu Barracks, Calabar, for an illegal detention in military guardroom,” and addressed to the General Officer Commanding 82, Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Cross River State House of Assembly and Commissioner for education, the petitioner stated that since she joined the secondary education board and command school for over 14-years now, she had never had any case of indiscipline or problem whatsoever in the various schools served and, therefore, wondered why she could be subjected to such a treatment.
Mrs. Ephraim, who described her detention as illegal confinement and breach of fundamental human rights by the military authorities, is demanding an unreserved apology and that the Commander of 146, Battalion, Eburutu barracks, Calabar, Lt.Col.K.N. Garuba, be cautioned for an alleged misbehaviour and inhuman treatment meted out to her for no just cause.
According to her, the incident that led to her detention was as a result of her trying to intervene in a matter between one of her colleagues, Mrs. Theresa Egrinya, and the Commanding Officer, Lt.Col. Garuba, on Saturday, March 2, 2010 at about 10:45 am in the school compound. Explaining further, she said, “We were in school with some of my colleagues for a re-scheduled examination for students. After the examination, we were outside the school, discussing the Army Day African Cup of Nations, a football tournament of the school when a motorbike pulled up in front of us.”
Looking agitated, the rider started shouting at one of the teachers, Mrs. Theresa Egrinya, saying, “madam you sent your son to knock me down, pack out of my barracks, I own this barracks.” On hearing this, she claimed, the madam fell on her knees and pleaded for mercy and in the process the school principal joined in pleading for leniency, an action which further infuriated the officer.
“Not yet satisfied, the army officer went ahead to order me out of the barracks for daring to interfere in the matter. And before I could get my things out of my office, he ordered one of the soldiers on guard to escort me to pack my things and lock me up in the guardroom.
In an emotion laden tone, she therefore, called on the relevant military authorities and the Cross River House of Assembly to intervene in the matter and caution Garuba against such action.
Narrating her ordeals to Daily Sun, Mrs. Ephraim, a History at Army Day Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River State, stated that she was so terribly frightened and depressed that the male inmates could rape her at any slightest opportunity.
She said, “ I was shocked to the bone marrow when I was put in the same cell with these hefty men; I asked myself what offence did I commit to warrant such torture, human debasement and treatment from the Commanding Officer whose duty it is to ensure my protection in the barracks. But thank God that after eight gory hours, my husband and my principal were able to effect my release from the gallows,” adding, the experience has worsened my health condition because it was the biggest nightmare I have ever had in my life.”
In a petition, entitled, “Petition against the Commanding Officer, 146, Battalion, Eburutu Barracks, Calabar, for an illegal detention in military guardroom,” and addressed to the General Officer Commanding 82, Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Cross River State House of Assembly and Commissioner for education, the petitioner stated that since she joined the secondary education board and command school for over 14-years now, she had never had any case of indiscipline or problem whatsoever in the various schools served and, therefore, wondered why she could be subjected to such a treatment.
Mrs. Ephraim, who described her detention as illegal confinement and breach of fundamental human rights by the military authorities, is demanding an unreserved apology and that the Commander of 146, Battalion, Eburutu barracks, Calabar, Lt.Col.K.N. Garuba, be cautioned for an alleged misbehaviour and inhuman treatment meted out to her for no just cause.
According to her, the incident that led to her detention was as a result of her trying to intervene in a matter between one of her colleagues, Mrs. Theresa Egrinya, and the Commanding Officer, Lt.Col. Garuba, on Saturday, March 2, 2010 at about 10:45 am in the school compound. Explaining further, she said, “We were in school with some of my colleagues for a re-scheduled examination for students. After the examination, we were outside the school, discussing the Army Day African Cup of Nations, a football tournament of the school when a motorbike pulled up in front of us.”
Looking agitated, the rider started shouting at one of the teachers, Mrs. Theresa Egrinya, saying, “madam you sent your son to knock me down, pack out of my barracks, I own this barracks.” On hearing this, she claimed, the madam fell on her knees and pleaded for mercy and in the process the school principal joined in pleading for leniency, an action which further infuriated the officer.
“Not yet satisfied, the army officer went ahead to order me out of the barracks for daring to interfere in the matter. And before I could get my things out of my office, he ordered one of the soldiers on guard to escort me to pack my things and lock me up in the guardroom.
In an emotion laden tone, she therefore, called on the relevant military authorities and the Cross River House of Assembly to intervene in the matter and caution Garuba against such action.
